KVITFJELL, Norway — Didier Cuche criticized race officials after winning a World Cup super-G on Sunday, a day after he was fined by the International Ski Federation for a dispute with a referee over a jump.
The 36-year-old Swiss held off two Austrians to complete the Olympiabakken course in 1 minute, 33.05 seconds. Klaus Kroell was second, 0.30 seconds behind, with Joachim Puchner 0.34 seconds back.
The victory moved Cuche into the discipline standings ahead of injured Austrian Georg Streitberger.
It was a remarkable recovery for Cuche after the FIS said Saturday it planned to fine him $5,400 for threatening a referee and issue a written warning for unsportsmanlike behavior.
“This is the first win of my career that I can’t enjoy,” Cuche said. “I’ve hardly slept the last few nights, and it was really hard to focus.”
According to the FIS, Cuche called race director Gunter Hujara on Thursday to complain about a dangerous jump in Saturday’s downhill and said: “If you don’t take the jump down and anything happens, I will not hesitate to attack you in public.”
Cuche said the events of recent days have made him reconsider his future in the sport. He said he would postpone his decision until after this week’s World Cup finals.
“I’m almost turning 37; I’m not a kid any more, and if Gunter just wants to scream at me every time I say something then I’m in the wrong place.”
Jonsson wins sprint World Cup
LAHTI, Finland — Emil Jonsson of Sweden won the World Cup men’s cross country sprint title and Kikkan Randall of the U.S. lost her lead in the women’s standings when Marit Bjoergen finished in 3:30.2 to lead a Norwegian double with Astrid Jacobsen.
The Associated Press
