Skiing: Surprise win for Rasmussen

Kyle Rasmussen of the United States narrowly beat Austria's Werner Franz in the Lauberhorn downhill classic at Wengen, Switzerland yesterday to score his first ever World Cup win. Rasmussen clocked 2 minutes 28.11 seconds, just 0.08sec faster than WernerFranz. Armin Assinger, also of Austria, was third in 2:28.28. Rasmussen finished in the same time as Friday, when he was 10th."I'm overwhelmed," he said. "It's the most important result of my life." The 26-year-old native of Angels Camp, Californ

ia was the first skier down the course. "The very top of the course was over one second slower so I skied the turns faster," Rasmussen said. "I had a good clean run and cleared up the mistakes of yesterday." Alberto Tomba, who does not participate in speed events, looks a safe bet to win today's slalom if his recent form continues. He has won all six slaloms so far and two out of the four giant slaloms.