BORMIO, Italy (AP) – Daron Rahlves led a World Cup downhill training session for the second day in a row, and American teammate Bode Miller was slightly injured in a fall Wednesday.

Rahlves covered the 2.3-mile Stelvio course, considered the most physically demanding on the World Cup circuit, in 1 minute, 59.57 seconds. He won the World Cup downhill here in 2002 and finished second behind Miller in the downhill at last season’s world championships on the Stelvio.

Miller fell early in his run and crashed into the safety fencing. He had a few facial cuts, but plans to race today.

“His mouth is swollen and his face is bruised. He’s not going to compete for Mr. Italy tonight,” said Miller’s spokesman, Marc Habermann.

Miller had an MRI on his left knee Dec. 22, following a fall four days earlier in a giant slalom in Italy.

“It’s just a bruise. The doctors said it will go away,” Habermann said.

Rahlves doesn’t figure the injuries will slow Miller.

“He’s going to be tough to beat here,” Rahlves said.

Miller has a good chance to get back on top of the overall standings with leader Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway out with a broken rib. Miller trails Svindal by eight points.

Svindal is expected to miss only this race and return for the giant slalom in Adelboden, Switzerland, on Jan. 7.

Rahlves listed Thursday’s race as one of his four main goals in what probably will be his final season. The other three are the downhill he won in Beaver Creek, Colo., on Dec. 2, next month at Kitzbuehel and the Olympics in February.

“Every time I come here to Bormio I’m real excited to ski,” Rahlves said. “It’s one of those tough downhills that really challenges you in a lot of ways.

“You kick out of the start, pick up speed really quick and you’re in the air on the second turn. From the beginning to the time you cross the finish line, there’s never any time to rest.”

Kurt Sulzenbacher of Italy was second Wednesday, 0.72 seconds behind Rahlves. Andreas Schifferer of Austria was third, 0.88 back.

Brad Spence of Canada fell and broke his right leg, organizers said. He was airlifted by helicopter to the Morelli hospital in nearby Sondalo.

AP-ES-12-28-05 1337EST