Men’s downhill: Kilde keeps Norway’s winning ways intact

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, GERMANY— Even with Aksel Lund Svindal out for the season, Norwegian men find ways to win on the World Cup circuit.

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde posted his first career victory when he came down as a late starter to clinch Saturday’s downhill, despite trailing in the upper half of the Kandahar course.

Bostjan Kline of Slovenia appeared headed for his first triumph until Kilde, wearing bib No. 30, blazed down at the bottom half to win by .22 seconds.

Benjamin Thomsen of Invermere, B.C., was the top Canadian in 12th.

Kilde’s win gave Norway its fifth downhill victory this season. The first four were by Svindal, but the downhill World Cup leader sustained a season-ending knee injury in a crash last week in Kitzbuehel, Austria.

Norwegian men have won 16 races in all disciplines this season. The last season a country had at least 16 race wins was in 2005-06 — when Austrian men had 18.

“It’s unbelievable for Team Norway,” Kilde said.

Kilde’s previous career best was third place in a Super-G in Val Gardena, Italy, in December. Kline’s previous top finish was 13th in Santa Caterina, Italy, in December of 2014.

Starting with the No. 3 bib, Kline had a long wait as leader before Kilde completed his winning run, making up time at the bottom of the course. Beat Feuz of Switzerland was third and Christof Innerhofer of Italy finished fourth.

Svindal remains ahead in downhill standings — 121 points clear of Peter Fill of Italy, the Kitzbuehel winner who finished 11th on Saturday. Marcel Hirscher of Austria will be looking to increase his overall lead in Sunday’s giant slalom.

Kilde covered the 3,300-metre Kandahar course in one minute, 55.28 seconds.

“It was dark, fast and bumpy and fun to ski,” said Kilde.