American Bode Miller has won a men's World Cup downhill ski race in Beaver Creek, Colorado, the third straight American downhill victory on the famed Birds of Prey Course.
Miller narrowly avoided a high-speed collision when a gate judge lost his footing and slid into the course just two gates from the top. However, the American neither flinched nor slowed and finished the race in one minute 46.15 seconds.
Swiss veteran Didier Cuche was second, 15-100ths of one second back. American Steven Nyman finished third, 33-100ths of one second behind Miller.
Americans have won the Birds of Prey downhill - considered one of the three toughest on the World Cup circuit - the past three years and four of the last five times. Daron Rahlves won in 2003 and 2005, and Miller in 2004.
Italian Peter Fill, who finished fourth Friday, remains the overall World Cup points leader with 184 points. Cuche is second with 154 points, while Miller is in eighth place with 120. A men's giant slalom is scheduled for Saturday, and a slalom is scheduled for Sunday.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP .