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Paerson pair Swede completes Giant Slalom doublePosted: Saturday January 25, 2003 8:20 AMUpdated: Saturday January 25, 2003 10:56 AM MARIBOR, Slovenia (Reuters) -- Sweden's Anja Paerson won her second World Cup giant slalom within a week Saturday when she beat Austrian Nicole Hosp by 1.22 seconds. Paerson, who had never won a giant slalom before last Sunday's race in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, led after the first leg and held on for victory in a total time of two minutes 24.63 seconds. The 19-year-old Hosp, who shared in a three-way tie for victory in the season's opening giant slalom in Soelden, clocked 2:25.85. World combined title-holder Martina Ertl of Germany was third in 2:26.26 but defending World Cup champion Sonja Nef of Switzerland, who was second after the first leg, finished only 11th after making a big mistake in sight of the finish line. A clearly disappointed Nef, who will defend her giant slalom world title on home snow in St Moritz next month, left the finish area without talking to waiting journalists. Italy's Karen Putzer held on to the giant slalom World Cup lead thanks to fifth place, 1.89 seconds behind Paerson. But Janica Kostelic's hopes of stepping on to the Maribor podium for the first time in the nearest thing she gets to a home race came to nothing. Kostelic, who won one of her three Olympic golds in giant slalom last year, finished 17th in 2:27.36 despite the encouragement of thousands of Croatian fans who had crossed the border for the race. Kostelic easily held on to the overall World Cup lead though, with 1,262 points to Putzer's 790. "This race was too easy for me," said Kostelic. "I have never been able to do much here and I have to admit I do not really like the course." Ertl, 29, has won nine giant slalom World Cup races in her long career, including two victories in Maribor, but had not made it on to a podium in the event for two years. "When I was on the podium here I was almost crying because it was very emotional for me," said Ertl, whose career has been plagued by injuries. "My seventh place in Cortina last week really motivated me. I knew that my form was finally back and I knew I could and should go for it today." Paerson, the world slalom champion, said the win confirmed her as a leading racer in giant slalom as well. "I knew that with such a big margin from the first leg I could allow myself to slow down after the intermediate checkpoint when it is hard to go fast because there are a few bumps," said the Swede, who led Nef by more than a second after the early run.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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