Martin Čater sensational winner of World Cup downhill opener
Val d'Isere, 13 December - Martin Čater won the World Cup season opening downhill in France's Val d'Isere on Sunday in what is the first podium finish for the 27-year-old, who entered the race with the start number 41.
Koper
Slovenian alpine skier Martin Čater.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA
File photo
In a sensational feat, Čater headed down the piste two hours into the race but his perfect line in excellent conditions allowed him to take the lead of the pack.
He finished the race 0.22 seconds ahead of Austria's Otmar Striedinger in second and 0.27 seconds ahead of Switzerland's Urs Kryenbühl in third.
Čater is only the third Slovenian male World Cup downhill winner since independence after Andrej Jerman, who has two wins, and Boštjan Kline, who has one.
His personal World Cup downhill best so far was 8th place, but in the trainings ahead of the race he indicated that he could aim high.