Dressen edged world champion Beat Feuz of Switzerland by 0.08 seconds, while Olympic gold medalist Aksel Lund Svindal finished 0.17 back in third. Svindal’s Norwegian teammate Kjetil Jansrud was fourth.
”It’s crazy. Before the season I expected a lot but not that things would go so well,” said Dressen after his second career win.
Dressen and Feuz also came 1-2 at the classic race in Kitzbuehel in January, which was the first German downhill victory in the men’s World Cup since 2005.
In a similar scenario to January’s race, Dressen started after most pre-race favorites had completed their runs. He trailed Feuz by 0.09 at the final split time but gained nearly two tenths at the bottom section of the Olympiabakken course.
Dressen had his first top-10 result on the same hill a year ago.
”From then on, I have been more relaxed,” said the German.
Svindal called Dressen’s victory ”no coincidence. He is one of the best downhill racers.”
In his breakthrough season, Dressen also reached the podium in Beaver Creek in December, and finished fifth in the Olympic downhill in Pyeongchang after leading one of the training runs.
While the 24-year-old Dressen could be a future candidate for the downhill season title, this season’s globe will be contested between Feuz and Svindal.
Saturday’s result boosted Feuz’s chances as he extended his lead in the downhill standings over the Norwegian to 60 points with only the season-ending race at the World Cup finals in Sweden on Wednesday remaining.
”It’s been a cool fight between us all year,” said Feuz, who won three downhill races this season, one more than Svindal.
If Feuz can hold on to his lead [url=http://www.clevelandbrownsteamonline.com/joe-thomas-jersey]Joe Thomas Jersey[/url] , he will earn his first crystal globe after finishing runner-up three times – in the downhill, combined and overall standings, all in the 2011-12 season.
”Of course you think about (the globe) but at the start of a race you have to get it out of your mind,” Feuz said. ”In Are it will be real final. (Svindal) will be fighting for the victory and I can’t take it easy, either.”
Svindal, who is a two-time overall champion, has won the downhill title twice but not since 2014.
A super-G on the same course is scheduled for Sunday.
A look ahead to top enterprise and feature stories planned globally by AP Sports. New digests will go out each Thursday and Monday and will be repeated on other weekdays. Please note that story plans may change depending on news and other issues.
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SOC–WCUP-THE JERSEYS
NEW YORK – Spain [url=http://www.chicagobearsteamonline.com/tarik-cohen-jersey]Kyle Long Bears Jersey[/url] , your asymmetry is showing. Nigeria, you’re so bright I need shades! Croatia, Russia’s fresh out of Big Boy restaurants. Those three countries and a few more are among the more festive standouts in jerseys this time around, with loads of sentimental touches in the designs of the 32 shirts rolled out over the last few months. By Leanne Italie. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.
SOC-WCUP PREVIEW
After raising the World Cup eight miles from Copacabana Beach four years ago, Germany hopes to lift the trophy four miles from the Kremlin on July 15 and become the first repeat champion in more than a half-century. The soccer world gathers at 12 stadiums in 11 cities across the European portion of Russia starting June 14 for a 32-day, 64-match championship. Much has changed since Die Mannschaft humiliated the host Selecao 7-1 in the 2014 semifinals, then left Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium with a 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina on Mario Goetze’s 113th-minute goal. By Ronald Blum. SENT: 860 words, photos.
WEDNESDAY, June 13
FBN–WENTZ’S COMEBACK
PHILADELPHIA – Carson Wentz was having an MVP season before a torn ACL forced him to the sideline where he watched Nick Foles lead the Philadelphia Eagles to their first Super Bowl victory. Wentz has a mission to return for Week 1 but his return comes with interesting circumstances: He’s got no pressure to return right away because the Eagles can lean on the Super Bowl MVP to start the season. And that’s not necessarily a threat to Wentz, whose friendship with Foles appears without the strain seen in other famed NFL tandems like Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers or Joe Montana and Steve Young. That has allowed Wentz to pursue other interests while rehabbing, like building a sports complex during a mission trip to Haiti [url=http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/eli-manning-jersey]http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/eli-manning-jersey[/url] , with the comfort of knowing his job is reasonably safe if he plays well once he comes back. By Rob Maaddi. UPCOMING: 850 words, photos by 3 a.m. Wednesday.
SOF–OLY-SOFTBALL GLOBALIZATION
OKLAHOMA CITY – U.S. softball officials say the sport needs to thrive outside the mainland United States and Japan to remain an Olympic sport long term. Softball was in the Summer Olympics from 1996 to 2008 but was left off the program in 2012 and 2016. It will return in Tokyo in 2020, and U.S. officials hope to convince Paris officials it needs to be a part of the 2024 Games. They say evidence of progress for other national teams will help their argument. By Cliff Brunt. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 12 p.m. Wednesday.
THURSDAY, June 14
BBC–STRIKEOUT UPSWING
OMAHA, Neb. – If the College World Series plays out like the season up to this point, there’ll be lots of strikeouts. Mirroring what’s happening in the major leagues, strikeouts are on the upswing in the college game. Strikeouts are at an all-time high, and the number of pitching staffs averaging nine or more per nine innings has tripled in the last two years. By Eric Olson. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 3 a.m. Thursday.
FRIDAY, June 15
FBC–COLLEGE FOOTBALL FATHERS
It is not uncommon to find major college football players all over the country who are fathers, many of them unmarried. Coaches say they want to know as much as possible when a child is in the picture. Information and understanding are vital to helping players who are fathers manage the responsibilities of school, football and parenthood. For some coaches it is not just about accommodating players who have kids [url=http://www.clevelandbrownsteamonline.com/jarvis-landry-jersey]Jarvis Landry Jersey[/url] , it is about helping to teach the young men in their programs to be good dads. By AP College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo. UPCOMING: 900 words, photos by 3 a.m. Friday.
SOC–WCUP-AMERICAN REFEREES
MOSCOW – The United States is missing from the World Cup for the first time since 1986 but is the only nation with two referees in Russia: Mark Geiger and Jair Marrufo. By Ronald Blum. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 4 p.m. Friday.
SATURDAY, June 16
SOC–WORLD CUP-VIEWING PARTIES
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Start times before the sun rises and the lack of the U.S. team in the World Cup might seem to put a damper on excitement for the tournament. But the San Jose Earthquakes hope to make it a month-long party by showing every game on the video board at Avaya Stadium, even those starting as early as 3 a.m. local time. By Josh Dubow. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 3 a.m. Saturday.
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