THE BEST IS YET

Miller and Vonn in best position to secure overall wins, but heading into the final stretch of the season, six discipline titles are still undetermined.


The FIS Grand Finals will see plenty of action as the World Cup heads into the final stretch of the season with six discipline titles still undetermined and both overall globes up for grabs in the last week of races.

The men's downhill will kick off the competition program on Wednesday at 9:30. Didier Cuche and Bode Miller will begin their push at the title in the same matchup that could decide the World Cup. If Miller holds a consistent advantage (169 points) in the overall standings, the race for the discipline title is going to be a rough ride, with the two competitors a mere five points away. On the contrary, U.S. downhiller Lindsay Vonn has already secured her title, dismantling all the other competitors with five wins and two second places in the season.

On Thursday the super-g will complete the speed events programme. Three athletes are still battling for the title, but Didier Cuche - leading at 340 points - just needs to score points to get finally out of reach. According to the FIS Finals rules, points are awarded only to the first fifteen racers, and not to thirty competitors as in the other World Cup events. If one takes into account that Cuche's worse result of the season in super-g is an 11th place at Beaver Creek, the chances of Austrian runner-ups Christoph Gruber (251) and Hannes Reichelt (241) seem quite slim. The ladies' title is more uncertain, with four racers still in the hunt. Elisabeth Goergl (281 points), Renate Goetschl (261) and Emily Brydon (254) will try to close the gap with the leader Maria Riesch (334).

Five wins in a row were enough to appoint Denise Karbon as the 2008 Giant Slalom World Cup winner a couple of weeks before the last race in Bormio. Saturday's double run on the Stelvio (start is set at 10:00) will be a cheerful parade for the Italian champion, celebrating on her home soil. On the contrary, Ted Ligety, Benni Raich and Manfred Moelgg will be competing til the last gate for the men's Giant Slalom title on Friday (10:00).

Both slalom titles are still up for grabs. In the ladies' race (Friday, 9:00), reigning champion Marlies Schild (540 points) needs to finish no lower than 10th place to win her second title in a row before teammate Nicole Hosp (465) and Finnish technical disciplines specialist Tanja Poutiainen. Manfred Moelgg (491) and Mario Matt (427) will try to upset seasonal leader Jean-Baptiste Grange (512) on Saturday, starting at 9:00.

In the overall, Benni Raich (1123) jeopardized his chances of doubling his 2006 title by being unconsistent throughout the second part of the season. The Crystal Globe seems again a deal between Bode Miller (1387) and Didier Cuche (1218). As for the ladies, Lindsay Vonn is in the best position to bring the title back to U.S. 25 years after Tamara McKinney, even if - on paper - six other racers could still challenge her leadership.