Miller sets U.S. Cup record with 28th win

KITZBUEHEL, Austria – Bode Miller won the combined title for the slalom and downhill Sunday, setting a U.S. record with his 28th World Cup victory.

Miller, who attended Carrabassett Valley Academy, finished 14th in the slalom after finishing second in Saturday’s downhill race. Jean-Baptiste Grange of France won the slalom on Sunday.

Phil Mahre set the American record of 27 World Cup victories more than two decades ago.

“It’s a nice record, something you dream about as a kid,” the 30-year-old Miller said. “As a professional skier, you’re more focussed on winning each individual race. Before the season, it was my target to break that record and it’s a really good feeling if you reach your goals.”

Benjamin Raich was second in the combined and went back to the top of the overall World Cup standings.

The 27-year-old Grange, who led after the first leg, finished in a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 45.04 seconds. The Frenchman edged Jens Byggmark by 0.15 seconds, and Mario Matt took third.

American Ted Ligety, who faced a 0.74-second deficit, started fast in his second run but lost control of a ski at the bumpy upper part of the course. He finished eighth.

“That’s an OK result for me,” Ligety said. “Grange is on fire these days. He is invincible.”