KITZBHEL: Italy's Dominik Paris joined the pantheon of skiing greats who have won the World Cup's most prestigious event, the Kitzbuehel downhill, twice after his latest triumph on Saturday.
Paris previously won in 2013 and the Italian's second victory down the notoriously difficult Streif course, in 1min 55.01sec, was his seventh win on the World Cup circuit.
The 27-year-old joins a list of multiple winners including Didier Cuche (5), Franz Klammer (4), Swiss duo Franz Heinzer and Pirmin Zubriggen, and France's Luc Alphand all winning three times.
"From the midpoint down it was very good," Paris said.
"It is one of the most beautiful races, I am really chuffed.
"I have not been in such good shape in the downhill, but that's a great start!"
Unheralded Valentin Giraud Moine claimed second, 0.21sec adrift, with French teammate Johan Clarey in third (+0.33) in perfect conditions with temperatures of -8 degrees Celsius (18F) and clear skies.
The Hahnenkamm, or rooster's comb, the mountain on which the "Streif" piste lies, is widely recognised as the toughest course on the World Cup circuit, with racers touching 100kph within 8.5 seconds of leaving the start and hitting 140kph further down the piste.
Starting with bib number nine, Paris attacked from the off and picked a particularly good line in the bottom section of the 3.3km-long course that demands everything of man and material as racers fight not only creeping exhaustion but also a 3.5G centrifugal force to change direction into the final descent.
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