Romed Baumann fastest in downhill to take lead in World Cup super-combined race The USA Times

Canadian Whitten wins stage, US gold medallist Armstrong breaks collarbone in fall . Auction of Canadian art at Sotheby's yields sales total of $3.5 million . Wade scores 41, James adds 28 as Miami finishes off Indiana with 105-93 win in Game 6 . Glitz, glamor and celebrity bribes at the annual amfAR gala in the south of France . Mass. native O'Brien talks about start in comedy during JFK Library appearance . The New Yorker magazine to serialize author Jennifer Egan's short story on Twitter . Cataractes romp to 6-1 win, eliminate Oil Kings from Memorial Cup . Hopping Mad: Broadcasters Fox, NBC, CBS sue Dish over ad-skipping DVR known as the Hopper . IOC president says he'd be happy if there was an Olympic bid from Quebec . US scientist says he's a suspect in severe beating of wife; says he had no involvement .

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Romed Baumann fastest in downhill to take lead in World Cup super-combined race

(AP Photo/Mario Curti)

CHAMONIX, France - Romed Baumann posted the fastest downhill time to take the lead in Sunday's World Cup super-combined race.

The Austrian skier, who was second in Saturday's downhill, continued his good form and finished 0.70 seconds ahead of Frenchman Adrien Theaux, with Dominik Paris of Italy 0.90 behind in third place before the slalom later Sunday.

The 26-year-old Baumann's only career World Cup win was a supercombi race, three years ago in Sestriere, Italy.

He has two other career podiums in supercombi, finishing second in Reiteralm, Austria in 2006, and third in the French resort of Val d'Isere in 2009. He was also third in a combined race last year in Kitzbuehel, Austria.

Theaux's only podium so far this season came at Lake Louise, Canada, where he finished third in super-G.

Temperatures on the La Verte des Houches course plummeted to minus 23 degrees Celsius (minus 9 F), making for icy conditions and American skier Bode Miller was one of several who failed to finish. Miller crashed but got back up and appeared unharmed.

Overall World Cup leader Ivica Kostelic finished the downhill 2.81 seconds behind in 19th spot, but the Croatian will be confident of challenging for a podium place because of his superior slalom skills.

Kostelic won last year's supercombi in Chamonix after erasing a deficit of 2.50 from the downhill.