World Cup: Max Franz salvages Austrian pride with downhill victory

Max Franz ended Austria’s frustrating 21-month wait for a downhill victory on the men’s World Cup circuit by edging out Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal in Val Gardena Saturday.
Later starter Franz powered down the famous Saslong course at the Italian ski resort in the Dolomites to pip Svindal by 0.04 seconds.
American veteran Steve Nyman, bidding to match legendary Austrian Franz Klammer and home skier Kristian Ghedina by winning four downhills at the venue, had to settle for third after making a mistake on the famous “Camel Humps” — nearly sitting down on his skis.