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KOENIGSSEE, Germany (AP) -- Zach Lund of the United States won a skeleton race Saturday to clinch the overall World Cup title a year after missing the Turin Olympics because of a drug suspension.
Lund finished his two heats in 1 minute, 35.97 seconds at the event, which also served as the European Championships. Alexander Tretiakov of Russia was second in 1:36.13 to claim European gold.
"I don't know what to say -- I'm just thankful after what happened last season," Lund said. "I just wanted to start strong this year and go all the way."
Lund missed the 2006 Winter Olympics because of a one-year doping suspension triggered by his use of a hair-restoration drug.
He beat Eric Bernotas of the United States for the season title with 653 points to 544. Bernotas was sixth Saturday in 1:36.47.
Lund was .15 seconds behind Tretiakov's combined time midway through his second heat, but accelerated at the bottom of the course to win by .16.
Markus Penz of Austria finished third in 1:36.26 to gain European silver, with Tomass Dukurs of Latvia fourth in 1:36.37 to take the bronze.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-02-24-07 1348MST
