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Kostelic wins Cup slalom

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-12-24 10:33

ALTA BADIA, Italy: Croat Ivica Kostelic won a men's World Cup slalom on Monday, almost five years since his last victory in the discipline.

Croatia's Ivica Kostelic clears a gate in the men's giant slalom event at the Alpine Skiing World Cup in Alta Badia, northern Italy, December 21, 2008. [Agencies]

Boosted by his second place in the previous day's giant slalom, his first ever podium in the specialty, the Croat kept up the momentum to bag his ninth World Cup victory.

In a combined time of one minute and 39.83 seconds, the 29-year-old all-rounder beat two of the best slalom specialists, France's Jean-Baptiste Grange and Austria's Benjamin Raich.

It was Kostelic's seventh win in a slalom and he built it thanks to a fantastic morning first run in Alta Badia, Italy.

In the afternoon, Grange, winner of the first slalom of the season in Levi, Finland, clocked the fastest leg time but it was not enough for the Frenchman, who missed top spot by 0.20 seconds.

Olympic champion Raich finished 0.80 seconds adrift.

Ivica Kostelic of Croatia celebrates on podium after winning the the men's slalom event at the Alpine Skiing World Cup in Alta Badia, northern Italy, December 22, 2008. [Agencies]

"I waited a long time to win a slalom again," Kostelic said.

"Honestly, when I heard the cheers from the crowd after Grange's run, I thought it would be tough. But my lead was good enough and I managed to play around with it."

In the World Cup overall standings, Raich's third place brought the Austrian close to leader Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway, who now leads him by only 37 points on 430 points.

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American World Cup holder Bode Miller, second in Levi a month ago, crashed out in the first leg.

The men's World Cup circuit remains in Italy over Christmas for a downhill in Bormio on Dec 28.

Kostelic will not take part in it, saving his strength for the next slalom at home in Zagreb on Jan. 6.

"I made it on the podium last year but to win at home would be just fantastic," he said."

Agencies