TNT Sports
Raich on top again
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Published 07/01/2006 at 14:36 GMT
Benjamin Raich won his second straight giant slalom on Sunday after nearly crashing out in the second run, taking Adelboden's GS and snagging the lead in both the discipline and the overall World Cup standings. Fredrik Nyberg finished second with Kalle Pa
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After leading the first leg Raich cruised through the top half of his second run, building a lead of more than one second through the first two splits. He stumbled near the finish line, however, nearly costing him his second consecutive victory in the discipline.
The World Cup champion in the GS last year, Raich regained his composure to cross the finish line in a combined two minutes and 23.25 seconds, a full 0.49 seconds ahead of Sweden's Nyberg, the oldest competitor on the piste at 36.
"I really did not expect to be able to win after such a big mistake, but this means a lot to me," said Raich.
"I was not too worried because my confidence is sky high at the moment."
Nyberg, a 17-year veteran, is now the oldest skier to make a World Cup podium. Italian speed specialist Kristian Ghedina finished second in a downhill in Chamonix last year at 35 years and 49 days.
"More than the Olympics, the big goal for me is the world championships at home in Are next year so I'm planning to go on for another season," said the Swede.
INTO FIRST PLACE
Raich also won the Kranjska Gora event just prior to Christmas, finishing exactly one minute in front of Italy's Massimiliano Blardone.
Raich leapfrogs Blardone, who finished 11th on Sunday, in the GS standings with 286 points to Blardone's 264.
The Austrian double-World Champion also moves ahead of Daron Rahlves for the overall World Cup lead after Rahlves crashed out in his second run at almost exactly the same spot where he took a similar spill in last year's race.
Bode Miller, finishing a disappointing 14th on the day, maintains second place in the overall WC standings as he and Rahlves are now tied for second with 489 points. Raich has 546 points after the win.
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