Crans-Montana, Switzerland – At age 37 Swiss skier Didier Cuche, the oldest alpine ski racer on the World Cup Tour, has already announced his retirement. But that didn’t stop him from appearing on top the World Cup podium again today following the circuit’s super G race in Crans Montana as Jan Hudec continued a strong late season comeback by the Canadian squad to finish in second place.

Cuche, who started with bib number 20, was .51 behind at the first timing interval yet made back all that time for the win. He has logged numerous wins already this season, including the prestigious Hahnenkamm Downhill in Kitzbuehel, Austria last month. His victory in today’s race, which was rescheduled from one cancelled by snow and fog in Kitzbuehel in late January, is the 21st of his long career.

Friday’s race was held under blue sky as strong sun and spring-like temperatures making the course rut up early.

“The track grooved up but it didn’t actually hole up, so that was actually nice. It was tough to ski fast after it grooved up and as soon as you got out of the track, you were just in mashed potatoes and goo,” explained U.S. Ski Team coach Sasha Rearick. “If you got off line anywhere, that goo just caught you up. It was impressive for [Didier] Cuche to win from the start number he had.”

Hudec, 30, from Calgary, Alberta, appeared today on the World Cup super G podium for the first time in his career with an advantageous early start position. Starting sixth, Hudec took an aggressive line and attacked the course.

“Thank goodness. I’m glad I finally got one in super G,” said Hudec. “It was a little bit bumpy when I went down but it really deteriorated for the other guys. It was like plus-10 on the hill.”

After disappointing results early in the season, Hudec’s second place finish today marks the Canadian men’s speed team’s  fifth podium result in as many races.

“The streak is pretty awesome. We just need to keep the momentum going,” said Hudec. “The other guys who have been part of the streak are really disappointed today but Erik (Guay) definitely knows he can be in there. I think he will be out to get one tomorrow.”

While it looked like Hudec’s time would be enough to win when he crossed the finish line, Cuche laid down a superb run to take the lead by 0.16 seconds. Austria’s Benjamin Raich, who came down right after Cuche, finished third.

“I had a feeling it wasn’t enough,” said Hudec, who is now ranked fourth in the world in super G. “I was a little bit conservative at the bottom and I know that left a window open for someone else. No one was really close to me at the top but if anyone can sneak in there, it’s Cuche.”

Olympic super G bronze medalist Andrew Weibrecht, of Lake Placid, N.Y., was 24th. Park City, Utah’s Ted Ligety was 28th and Tommy Biesemeyer, of Keene, N.Y., 30th for the first World Cup points of his career. Bode Miller did not start in favor of continued rest for a sore left knee injured in the Olympic test event weekend in Sochi, Russia, U.S. Ski Team officials indicate, while other sources say that Miller underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in Vail, Colo. on Monday.

“[Andrew] Weibrecht has been skiing really well in super G so for him to come down where he did today was tough. He lost a bunch of time on the top because he got off the track, but from there down he did OK,” said Rearick. “[Tommy] Biesemeyer scoring his first World Cup point was the highlight of the day. The conditions were not at all friendly and he skied well.”

Today’s race resulted in no change in the World Cup overall leader board as Croatian Ivica Kostelic did not start as he continues his rehabilitation following knee surgery and Austrian Marcel Hirscher finished outside of the points.

A second super G is scheduled for Saturday with weather predicted to stay warm and sunny.

“The forecast for tomorrow is the same – hot and sunny,” said Rearick. “But they’ve reset the course and they’re slipping the hill right now. Hopefully it’ll get a little colder tonight, but we’ll see.”

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Audi FIS Alpine World Cup
Crans Montana, Switzerland – Feb. 24, 2012
Men’s Super G