Innerhofer fastest in 1st practice for World Cup downhill

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany — Christof Innerhofer was fastest Thursday in the first training session for a downhill race.

The Italian sped down the 3.3-kilometre Kandahar (2-mile) course in 1 minute, 56.09 seconds, edging teammate Matteo Marsaglia by 0.42 seconds.

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde of Norway was third, 0.89 behind Innerhofer, ahead of Austrian teammates Hannes Reichelt and Vincent Kriechmayr.

Thomas Dressen, who ended Germany's 13-year wait for a men's downhill win last Saturday in Kitzbuehel, Austria, clocked 129.11 kph (80.2 mph) in the fastest section of the course and finished seventh, behind Beat Feuz of Switzerland.

Manuel Osborne-Paradis of North Vancouver, B.C., was the top Canadian in 16th place.

Saturday's downhill is followed by a giant slalom on Sunday.

The Associated Press