By USSA

VAL GARDENA, Italy — Five-time Olympic medalist Bode Miller (Franconia, N.H.) continued to build speed on the Road to Sochi with a fifth place Saturday in the 46th Saslong Classic downhill in Val Gardena, Italy. After falling behind in the upper gliding portion of the course, Miller found the gas pedal through the curvy, rolling lower half to nearly make up a full second of time before running out of space to finish 0.15 off the podium.

It was a solid day for North America, as Erik Fisher (Middleton, Idaho) finished 13th, Marco Sullivan (Squaw Valley) 16th and Travis Ganong (Squaw Valley) 19th behind race winner Erik Guay of Canada.

It was Miller’s best speed finish of the season as he continues to gain strengh for the Olympic Winter Games after missing all of the 2013 Audi FIS Alpine World Cup season.