90 to make up on Svindal in the afternoon slalom run.
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The Norwegian posted online about a big snow dump on Lauberhorn mountain ahead of the race, and was on the piste at the onset of fog which would cause a lengthy delay that hit the hopes of Svindal’s rival and teammate Kjetil Jansrud.
The Norwegian was in supreme form once again in Switzerland, dominating the course as he had done 24 hours earlier in the alpine combined.
Fresh from finishing second in the Alpine Combined on Friday, Svindal moved up a step on the podium this time around as he laid down the fastest run in 1:48.79 minutes.
Svindal and Reichelt raced in overcast conditions just before fog rolled across the course.
Svindal, 33, leads the downhill standings by 108 points from Reichelt, with Jansrud fourth – the same position the Olympic super-G champion holds in the overall championship.
Svindal has now won four out of the five World Cup downhills contested this season, with the exception of Santa Caterina on December 29 which went to Frenchman Adrien Theaux.
“What we are doing in the World Cup this year is quite fantastic”, said Jansrud, who combined with slalom specialist Henrik Kristoffersen last season to claim a national record 11 race wins.
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The following season, the Scandinavian skier would continue to impress, triumphing in six events, including on the renowned Strief slope in Kitzbühel, and clinching a silver medal in the super combined at the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Beaver Creek (USA). Svindal can take the lead on Saturday when he starts as favorite for the classic Lauberhorn downhill. Hirscher does not race downhill, and starts among the favourites in the slalom on Sunday.
