Suter wins Garmisch downhill in final Olympic tune-up

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany: Reigning world champion Corinne Suter boosted her morale ahead of the Olympic downhill in Beijing with victory at Garmisch-Partkenkirchen on Saturday in the weekend’s final tune-up races before the Winter games, which starts next week.

Suter thundered down the downhill course in the heart of the Bavarian alps, clocking one minute, 40.74 seconds with Swiss team-mate Jasmine Flury second at 0.51 behind.

Austria’s Cornelia Huetter finished third at 0.78 behind Suter, who won the world downhill title in Cortina d’Ampezzo last February.

“I am really happy to have won here, it wasn’t planned, but I am happy to have some momentum,” said Suter with one eye on the Beijing Olympics, which open Friday.

Suter can complete the Garmisch double on Sunday in the women’s super-G.

With just days to go before the Olympics, several top-names were missing in Garmisch, including overall World Cup leader Mikaela Shiffrin of the USA.

Swiss racers Lara Gut-Behrami and Michelle Gisin were among the other top names who opted to skip Bavaria to head to China early.

Injured overall World Cup downhill leader Sofia Goggia was also absent as she battles against time to defend her Olympic title on February 15 in Beijing.