Alpine Skiing: Svindal Targets Third Win At Bormio

Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal will be looking to keep his winning momentum in the men's World Cup downhill in Bormio after speeding to victories in the last two races this season

Bormio, Italy, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Dec, 2017 ) :Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal will be looking to keep his winning momentum in the men's World Cup downhill in Bormio after speeding to victories in the last two races this season.

The speed specialist is leading the World Cup downhill standings after three races with wins at Beaver Creek, Colorado and Val Gardena in the Italian Dolomites, after opening with a third place at Lake Louise in Canada.

And the 34-year-old will be hoping to pick up where he left off in the Italian Alpine resort of Bormio where he won last time the race was hosted. Bormio is returning to the men's Calendar this season with downhill and combined races scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

The venue has not hosted World Cup racing since the 2013-14 season because of a dispute with the company operating the ski lifts with nearby Santa Caterina Valfurva hosting events instead. The difficult and spectacular Stelvio piste is famous for its physical and technical challenge and is traditionally loved by Italians who have had good results on the Stelvio and will be looking for the first podium this season.

Svindal clocked the ninth fastest time of 1min 58.

2sec in the opening training run on Wednesday with the second run scheduled for Thursday depending on weather conditions with heavy snow forecast.

Italian Peter Fill dominated early training ahead of compatriot Christof Innerhofer and Austrian Matthias Mayer. Another Italian Dominik Paris, winner in 2012, will also be seeking his first win of the season, with Swiss reigning world champion Beat Feuz eyeing his second win after the season-opener at Lake Louise.

Svindal -- the 2010 Olympic downhill silver medallist -- won in Bormio four years ago. This season he is laying the groundwork for a return to Olympic success in PyeongChang from February 9 to 25.

His Vancouver podium was one of three he won including the Super-G gold but despite heading to Sochi four years later as a favourite to win multiple medals he failed to return with a single. Hampered by knee injuries in the past few years and a torn Achilles tendon in 2014 he has been making his his way back from knee surgery since January.

The first of the two combined events -- a downhill run and slalom -- of the season takes place on Friday.