The Kitzbuhel downhill, which takes place on the Hahnenkamm mountain in Austria, is the one race they all want to win.
The Kitzbuhel downhill, which takes place on the Hahnenkamm mountain in Austria, is the one race they all want to win.
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Italian Peter Fill was the victor in 2016 and celebrated with Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Italian Peter Fill was the victor in 2016 and celebrated with Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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The Streif downhill course is the most feared on the circuit, featuring a steep start drop, a maximum gradient of 85% down the Mousetrap section, plus bumps, compressions and plenty of jumps.
The Streif downhill course is the most feared on the circuit, featuring a steep start drop, a maximum gradient of 85% down the Mousetrap section, plus bumps, compressions and plenty of jumps.
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Racers can reach speeds of up to 95mph as they plunge from from 5,462ft to the finish area in the village at 2641ft in under two minutes.
Racers can reach speeds of up to 95mph as they plunge from from 5,462ft to the finish area in the village at 2641ft in under two minutes.
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The 2016 race claimed a handful of victims. Norway's World Cup leader Aksel Lund Svindal was one when he was catapulted on landing off the Hausbergkante jump. Going...
The 2016 race claimed a handful of victims. Norway's World Cup leader Aksel Lund Svindal was one when he was catapulted on landing off the Hausbergkante jump. Going...
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Going...
Going...
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Gone.
Gone.
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Svindal walked away from his spectacular crash but tore his anterior cruciate ligament and was ruled out for the season.
Svindal walked away from his spectacular crash but tore his anterior cruciate ligament and was ruled out for the season.
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Switzerland's Daniel Albrecht suffered a more serious crash when he lost balance over the final jump and landed on his back in 2009. He was placed in an induced coma for three weeks, but made a full recovery and returned to the circuit in late 2010.
Switzerland's Daniel Albrecht suffered a more serious crash when he lost balance over the final jump and landed on his back in 2009. He was placed in an induced coma for three weeks, but made a full recovery and returned to the circuit in late 2010.
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Despite Austria's dominance of the event, Switzerland's Didier Cuche is "Mr. Kitzbuhel" with a record five downhill wins, the last at the age of 37 in 2012.
Despite Austria's dominance of the event, Switzerland's Didier Cuche is "Mr. Kitzbuhel" with a record five downhill wins, the last at the age of 37 in 2012.
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Kitzbuhel is an historic town in Austria's Tyrol region, with charming cobbled streets and traditional architecture.
Kitzbuhel is an historic town in Austria's Tyrol region, with charming cobbled streets and traditional architecture.
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The town is awash with hard-partying fans alongside the celebrities and sporting icons during Hahnenkamm week. A record crowd of 100,000 turned up in 1999. The downhill usually attracts about 45,000 alone.
The town is awash with hard-partying fans alongside the celebrities and sporting icons during Hahnenkamm week. A record crowd of 100,000 turned up in 1999. The downhill usually attracts about 45,000 alone.
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Austrian Karl Schranz won the last of three downhills in Kitzbuhel in 1972, but the race as we know it began in 1937.
Austrian Karl Schranz won the last of three downhills in Kitzbuhel in 1972, but the race as we know it began in 1937.
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