Alpine skiing: Italy's Paris wins Hahnenkamm downhill

By Manuele Lang

KITZBUEHEL, Austria (Reuters) - Dominik Paris became only the second Italian to win the most prestigious downhill on the World Cup circuit, on Kitzbuehel's Hahnenkamm mountain, on Saturday.

Joint winner of the Bormio classic earlier this season, the 23-year-old Paris outshone the favorites in one minute 57.56 seconds to emulate compatriot Kristian Ghedina, crowned in 1998.

"Who wouldn't dream of winning Kitzbuehel? " said the skier from Merano, in the South Tyrol.

"To win Kitzbuehel is a career high, something very special for a downhiller, I didn't feel so good up there but I nailed the final part really well. It's the kind of course I like the most, you have to fight from top to bottom, like at Bormio."

Paris fended off questions about his chances at the world championships in Schladming which start on February 5.

"I don't want to think about Schladming. Kitzbuehel is Kitzbuehel. Nothing else matters for now," he said.

The victory underlined the strength of the Italian speed team, who have bagged four of the six downhills held this season, with Christof Innerhofer winning in Beaver Creek and in Wengen a week ago.

Innerhofer was the focus of attention for the 50,000 spectators lining the Streif on Saturday, as he started in 46th position after being sanctioned for ignoring an order to slow down in practice.