Skiing: Strobl sets the pace

Austria's Fritz Strobl confirmed his position as a gold medal contender for the men's downhill at the World Championships by recording the fastest training time in Sestriere, Italy, yesterday.

Strobl, who also dominated Tuesday's first practice session on the Kandahar Banchetta slope, clocked 1min 52.59sec, despite slowing before the final jump. He was closely trailed by Luc Alphand, in 1:52.84, who is aiming to become the first Frenchman to win a downhill gold medal since Jean- Claude Killy in Grenoble in 1968.

"The piste was quite uneven, but that's not surprising after four training runs and the combined downhill," Alphand said. "If I come second tomorrow, then that is no disaster."