The Sidelines : Ghedina Leads After Downhill

SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria â€”  Kristian Ghedina was fastest in the downhill portion of the men’s combined event today at the World Alpine Skiing Championships, but two-time defending champion Marc Girardelli was well-positioned to win the title.

Ghedina’s time of 1 minute, 42.52 seconds was nine-tenths of a second faster than that of Switzerland’s William Besse, while Jan Einar Thorsen of Norway was third in 1:43.55.

But none of the three are strong in the slalom that will complete the combined event on Wednesday. That race will count more heavily than the downhill to determine the overall winner.

Luxembourg’s Girardelli, who won the slalom title last week, and Austrian Guenther Mader were in the best position to take the combined.

Girardelli finished the 2,655-meter Schneekristall course in 1:44.78. Mader, twice a combined bronze medalist at the world championships, had a time of 1:44.56.