06 JAN 2001 > Women's Giant Slalom
Swiss Miss Dominates
Race Results

The Swiss are dominating the GS specialty this season. While Michael von Gruenigen celebrated his third win of the season at Les Arcs, in France, his colleague from the women's team, Sonja Nef, did even better at Maribor, Slovenia, where she clinched her fourth GS race of the season — and her third in a row.

The charming Swiss had to fight hard to have the last word in this first event for the New Year and beat her closest rival, Italy's petite Karen Putzer by 24/100 of a second.

Austria's Renate Goetschl, once again in 3rd, at 36/100 is always getting closer to her dream to win her first GS race ever — the only event missing in her impressive collection of successes. So far, the defending Overall World Cup champion has won in all other disciplines over the past seven years.

"When you just won two consecutive races, it's easier to take more risks..."

Another Swiss, Corinne Rey-Bellet, who led after the first run, is 5th ahead of Janica Kostelic, the leader in the overall standings.

American Sarah Schleper, 7th at 1.37 second back, lost too much time in the first run to reach another podium, but she remains a solid contender in the technical events. Her teammate, Kristina Koznick, was one of the fastest skiers in the second run which helped her to move up to 17th position.

France's Regine Cavagnoud was 25th and last after losing precious points on the leaders in this race, as did Sweden's Anja Paerson, 23rd.

Michaela Dorfmeister skied out and Norway's Trine Bakke injured her knee, meaning she may have to rest until the end of the season.

The warm temperature of 15°C created major problems for organizers who had to work hard and use loads of chemical to harden the narrow piste which had become quite difficult to ski. It was definitely an advantage for good skiers and confident ones, like Sonja Nef, who badly wanted to win this "Classic" after finishing 2nd three times since 1996.

"When you just won two consecutive races, it's easier to take more risks," she said after the race. I know this slope as my pocket and I was ready to go for it; this year it had to be my turn," she added. "I have reached much more than I hoped. This series of great result should help me to finally win a medal at St Anton."

In 1996, Sonja was in the lead in GS at the World Championships after the first run, but fell at the beginning of the second run.

Goetschl and Kostelic too are strong and well organized in their careers. No surprise that they are now two of the top-favorites for this season's Overall World Cup contest.

USA's Sarah Schleper is on her way. She handled her race well and she was glad to reach another top-10 in GS a week after her strong performance in Semmering, Austria, where she came in 3rd.

"It's important to be consistent. It reinforces your confidence and your position in the rankings," she said. "I had a strong second run but I was too far behind in the first one. Now I aim for another good result in slalom. I feel more comfortable in slalom at the moment."

She will try hard, as will Koznick, Christel Saioni from France, Spela Pretnar from Slovenia or Anja Paerson from Sweden, to beat Kostelic for the first time this season. Janica is ready to win once more but at the same time she is not afraid to lose. This is what makes her so fast this winter.

— Manuèle Lang, World Cup Correspondent

Email this story to a friend