REUTERS - Benjamin Raich is the man to restore Austrian pride in Monday's world championship super-combined event, his team hope after finding themselves with no medals from two events.

While the Austrian women have lived up to their reputation with gold for Kathrin Zettel in the super-combined and bronze medals for Andrea Fischbacher and Elisabeth Goergl in the super-G and super-combined respectively, the men have struggled.
 

For the first time since the Vail championships 20 years ago, the ski-mad nation failed to win a medal in either of the men's speed events. A fifth place by Raich in the super-G and sixth for Hermann Maier in the downhill were their best results.

"Of course we're not happy with the results but we also believe we are better than the medals table suggests," said Austrian head coach Hans Pum.
 

Men's coach Toni Giger said the Austrians had come close, especially Raich, who was 0.16 seconds off the time of silver medallist Peter Fill of Italy in the super-G.

"The difference between a good result and a bad one can be tiny in this sport," said Giger. "I have to say I'm proud of my skiers who fought hard and gave it their very best."
 

The poor showing did not come as a total surprise after the Austrian men failed to shine in speed events on the World Cup circuit this season, while posting trademark strong results in the technical disciplines.

Raich, the Olympic slalom and giant slalom champion, will start as favourite on Monday in the absence of overall World Cup leader Ivica Kostelic, who has returned to Croatia to nurse a sore back.
 

"I hope I'll get a medal but the feeling that I should save our ski nation is not right," said Raich, who has won gold and silver in combined events at previous championships. "I don't see myself as a saviour."

The 30-year-old Raich can expect a challenge from American Bode Miller, Swiss Carlo Janka, Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal and local favourite Jean-Baptiste Grange in the super-combined which comprises a shortened downhill and a slalom run.