Kostelic maneuvers to slalom title in Italy

Source: Agencies  |   2008-12-23  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

IVICA Kostelic of Croatia won a World Cup slalom yesterday for his second podium finish in two days on the Gran Risa course in Alta Badia, Italy.

Maintaining his lead from the first run, Kostelic won with a two-leg combined time of 1 minute, 39.83 seconds.

Kostelic placed second in the traditional giant slalom on the Gran Risa on Sunday, his best career result in the discipline. He has now won eight slaloms, and labeled this the best weekend of his career.

"It's the first time that I've been on the podium twice in a row," he said.

Jean-Baptiste Grange of France, who won the season's opening slalom in Levi, Finland, finished second ?? 0.20 seconds behind ?? despite posting the fastest second run.

"I had two strong runs. They weren't perfect but I'm really pleased," Grange said. "Today Ivica was just beyond reach. He's skiing very confidently in three disciplines."

Olympic slalom champion Benjamin Raich placed third, 0.80 back.

Kostelic had his sister Janica, the retired skiing great, with him all weekend.

"I listen to what she has to say. We've been talking a lot about tactics in the second run and inspection," he said. "She's one of the best skiers in history and I would be stupid to ignore her."

Grange retained his lead in the slalom standings with 180 points. Kostelic is next with 145 and defending overall World Cup winner Bode Miller is third with 80.

Miller split a gate during the opening run and was disqualified.

The American finished second in Levi for his best slalom result in four years and was skiing well again on the upper section, matching Kostelic's time at the first checkpoint, then cut a gate too close for his second unfinished race in two days - and his sixth in 13 events this season.

Meanwhile, Gregor Schlierenzauer of Austria won a World Cup ski jumping event on Sunday in Engelberg, Switzerland, to close the gap on overall points leader Simon Ammann.

The 18-year-old Schlierenzauer delivered jumps of 133.5 meters in both rounds to score 264.1 points. It was his 13th career World Cup win and second of the season.

Wolfgang Loitzl of Austria finished second with 262.4 points. Ammann was third.