Austria's Renate Goetschl is the main favorite for the downhill Olympic title in Monday's race - on Sunday afternoon, the 1999 World Champion dominated the last practice run which took place under bright sun a few hours after the men's competition won by her teammate Fritz Strobl.

She beat by 40/100 of a second her friend Michaela Dorfmeister, the 2001 World Champion at St Anton, while Canada's Mélanie Turgeon clocked the third best time at 87/100.

Hilde Gerg, the double winner at Saalbach, is also aiming for a podium on Monday - she was 4th. America's Picabo Street, the fastest on Saturday's practice run was 7th - the 1996 downhill World Champion looks confident as Italy's Isolde Kostner, 8th at 1,30 seconds.

Janica wants to rest

Janica Kostelic, only 32nd, decided with her staff to skip the downhill race in order to rest and focus on her next event, the combined scheduled for Thursday. The Croat feels fine but she prefers to save energy for her mains events, including the Super-G.

"At the best, I would finish 30th here - I think it's not really interesting for me even if I feel quite comfortable on this run. The course is not too demanding and I enjoy skiing it but I prefer to rest and prepare the combined events and the Super-G. Maybe I'll train some slalom - we will see!"

"I have good chances to get on the podium in the combined but I would rather gain a medal in Super-G. It would be fun because it's has not been my best event in recent winters. I was 4th at Cortina d'Ampezzo and I feel able to improve here".

"So far these Olympics went on smoothly for us. I enjoyed carrying the flag at the Opening Ceremony as in Nagano. We didn't stay too long after the parade because I had a training run scheduled for the next day".

"We are staying in a nice place with my staff and we have our own chef. Ivica and my mother are arriving on February 14th - St Valentine Day, when the combined will take place".

"I'm looking forward to meet them again and hopefully have some good moments together".

Renate feels ready

Janica plans to enter a last training run in the combined downhill before her next competition later on this week. She may watch the downhill on Monday - eventually to support her friend Renate Goetschl who aims to clinch her first Olympic medal. In 1998, Goetschl crashed on her way to the podium in the downhill but proved in 1999 in winning gold at Vail that she can handle the pressure of the big events.

A winner in the last two downhills in Cortina d'Ampezzo and Are, Renate's form has been peaking for weeks. She seems ready for another great day. "There is a big difference between a timed trial and a race, but I feel quite confident after this excellent run today" she said.

"My skis are fast too - so everything looks fine for me. I just hope to remain relaxed and have fun".

Half a dozen other skiers have a serious chance to fight for gold on the "Wildflower" course here. Among them, the 1998 Olympic Super-G silver medal winner Michaela Dorfmeister who performed well under pressure in the past seasons, Italy's Isolde Kostner, 3rd in 1994 and the best downhiller on the World Cup tour in the last two years, Sweden's veteran Pernilla Wiberg, the multiple gold medal winner since 1992, Germany's Hilde Gerg, the defending slalom Olympic champion always strong in big events and of course Picabo Street, starting in her very last major competition.

A silver medal winner in 1994 behind Katja Seizinger at Lillehammer, the 30-year-old Street would achieve quite a comeback in capturing another medal here four years after her terrible accident at Crans-Montana in March 1998. Who ever wins that dramatic race - it will be a true champion!