Ligety Wins Again In Kranjska Gora

The super-combined Olympic champion set the record straight in two minutes 19.92 seconds.

American Ted Ligety won the giant slalom in Kranjska Gora for the second year in succession on Saturday.

The super-combined Olympic champion, starved of World Cup podiums so far in 2009, set the record straight in two minutes 19.92 seconds.

It was the American's fourth World Cup victory, all in giant slaloms, and it came as just reward after his bronze medal in the same discipline at the world championships in Val d'Isere earlier this month.

Super-G world champion Didier Cuche, winner last weekend in Sestriere, had to be content with second place, 0.19 seconds adrift, despite clocking the fastest time on the first run.

Italy's Massimiliano Blardone was third, 0.34 behind.

"It was a disappointing season so far especially after I came 0.01 seconds short of victory in Beaver Creek," said Ligety. "I struggled to recover from that.

"My medal in Val d'Isere put me back in the saddle but I really mean to do better in slaloms, they've been my main disappointment this season. Hopefully this is the confidence boost I needed."

Cuche said: "The first run was really designed for me. It was steep and icy. But there was nothing to do against Ted in the second leg.

"Now the giant slalom World Cup will be decided in Are and I can go for it. As for the overall title, everything will depend on the speed events in Kvitfjell next weekend. I really hope to be able to win a downhill this season."

Ivica Kostelic was 20th but it was enough for the Croatian to keep a slim lead in the overall World Cup standings.

Kostelic has 813 points but four skiers are within 100 points of him and six are within 200, two weeks before the end of the season.

The World Cup programme continues in Kranjska Gora with a slalom on Sunday.