Miller takes overall
Vonn close to World Cup title
BORMIO, Italy - Bode Miller clinched his second overall World Cup title yesterday, then promptly retreated behind the tinted windows of his bus.
Lindsey Vonn was all smiles after moving so close to securing the women's crown that her only competitor still in the running conceded defeat.
Miller and Vonn are on the verge of the first American sweep of the overall titles since Phil Mahre and Tamara McKinney did it 25 years ago.
For Miller, who split from the US team this season to train on his own, there were no smiles, no champagne, and few words - until he showed up later at an appearance for one of his sponsors.
"This isn't the type of World Cup finals I wanted to end the season with," Miller said. "In my mind, today wasn't my idea of a great super-G race."
Miller finished a disappointing 12th in the final super-G of the season. He clinched the overall title when his closest rival, Didier Cuche, announced after the race that he would not compete in the season's final slalom.
Miller was livid after Wednesday's downhill was canceled because of warm weather, handing the downhill title to Cuche with a 5-point lead over Miller.
"The racers, we just mostly want to race and see who's the fastest," Miller said. "It's tough when it comes down to the last races and the last races are like this. We want the finals to be the climax to the season so we can all be done and move on. This year, it seems like it's not living up to anyone's expectations.
"It was looking to be a great final in downhill with Cuche and I, and it takes away from that excitement."
Vonn finished second yesterday in the season's final super-G behind Fabienne Suter of Switzerland, her best result in the discipline all season. She holds a 197-point lead over Maria Riesch of Germany with two races remaining and 200 points at stake.
"She already congratulated me," Vonn said of Riesch, her best friend on the circuit.
Suter won the women's super-G and Riesch captured the super-G title by finishing sixth.
Vonn secured the downhill title before Wednesday's race was canceled.
Miller's personal coach, John McBride, rejoiced at what Miller, who also won the overall in 2005, had accomplished in his first season on his own.
"It's exciting to break new ground and do something different," McBride said. "This is the first time I've seen a World Cup professional team run outside the national governing bodies and I think that's exciting."
Miller decided to go solo after clashing with the US squad over team rules.
He hired McBride away from the US team to be his head coach and brought in former US coaches Forest Carey and Mike Kenney. Miller labeled his breakaway squad "Team America."
