Walchofer makes it two in a row in downhill at Val Gardena

MICHAEL Walchhofer was victorious in the World Cup downhill for the second year in succession at Val Gardena - edging out American Bode Miller.

The Austrian clocked a time of 1. 50.57 minutes to finish ahead of the American while. Manuel Osborne-Paradis of Canada was third.

Despite a lacklustre run that saw him come home more than three seconds off the pace, Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal retains the overall lead on 398 points.

Walchhofer, who finished a disappointing 40th in Friday's Super-G, has now tasted success three times on the Saslong piste.

He has won 14 times overall in the World Cup, 11 of those victories coming in the downhill.

"I was desperate after yesterday's Super-G, and I wanted this very badly," he said. "It's been a long time coming but I gave it my all."