Women's GS globe still up for grabs after Rienda Contreras wins in Hafjell

Women’s GS globe still up for grabs after Rienda Contreras wins in Hafjell{mosimage}HAFJELL, Norway – Maria Jose Rienda Contreras of Spain had an impressive second run to win a World Cup giant slalom Sunday, preventing Sweden’s Anja Paerson from clinching the discipline season title.

Racing in near-perfect conditions under sunny skies, Rienda Contreras had a two-run combined time of 2 minutes, 22.64 seconds on Hafjell’s Olympic hill.

“It was a very important victory,” Rienda Contreras said. “Now the giant slalom cup will be decided in the very last race and I have the chance to win it.”

With one race left at the World Cup Finals at Are, Sweden, in two weeks, Contreras trails Paerson by 45 points in the GS standings.

It was Rienda Contrera’s fourth giant slalom victory of the season and sweet revenge after falling well short at last month’s Olympics, where she was one of the favorites in the discipline.

“I was very disappointed after the Olympics,” said Rienda Contreras, who was 13th in Torino. “But this win gave me a lot of confidence and I’m looking forward to the battle against Anja in Sweden. It was great to prove today that I still belong among the best in the giant slalom.”

Paerson, skiing with sore knees, placed fifth, 0.79 back, on the same hill where she clinched her first World Cup GS title three years ago. She would have needed to finish ahead of Rienda Contreras on Sunday to do it again.

Nicole Hosp of Austria, winner of one giant slalom this season, finished second, 0.25 behind the winner. Olympic silver medalist Tanja Poutiainen of Finland, who led by nearly half a second after the first run, dropped to third, 0.52 behind.

Michaela Dorfmeister, the two-time Olympic champion from Austria, was .65 back in fourth place – her best GS finish of the season.

Julia Mancuso of the United States, the Olympic GS champion, was well back in 22nd, but her teammate Stacey Cook notched a career-best 15th, leading an American team with four athletes in the top 30. Libby Ludlow was 21st and Resi Stiegler 26th.

Janica Kostelic of Croatia placed sixth to retain her lead over two-time defending champion Paerson in the overall standings.

Two slaloms are scheduled next weekend at Levi, Finland, before the season-ending races in Sweden.

The Associated Press

Women’s Giant Slalom
Hafjell-Kvitfjell, Norway
March 5, 2006
1. Maria Jose Rienda, SPA 2:22.64
2. Nicole Hosp, AUT 2:22.89
3. Tanja Poutiainen, FIN 2:23.16
4. Michaela Dorfmeister, AUT 2:23.29
5. Anja Paerson, SWE 2:23.43
6. Janica Kostelic, CRO 2:23.45
7. Genevieve Simard, CAN 2:23.64
8. Karen Putzer, ITA 2:23.69
9. Tina Maze, SLO 2:24.17
10. Nadia Fanchini, ITA 2:24.21
11. Martina Ertl-Renz, GER 2:24.34
12. Anna Ottosson, SWE 2:24.58
13. Jessica Lindell-Vikarby, SWE 2:24.62
14. Elisabeth Goergl, AUT 2:24.66
15. Stacey Cook, USA 2:24.79
16. Ana Drev, SLO 2:24.92
17. Kathrin Zettel, AUT 2:24.99
18. Silvia Berger, AUT 2:25.03
19. Fraenzi Aufdenblatten, SUI 2:25.05
20. Michaela Kirchgasser, AUT 2:25.46
21. Libby Ludlow, USA 2:25.49
22. Julia Mancuso, USA 2:25.62
23. Christine Lustenbeger, CAN 2:25.76
24. Andreas Fischbacher, AUT 2:25.93
25. Kathrin Hoelzl, GER 2:26.10
26. Resi Stiegler, USA 2:26.15
27. Janette Hargin, SWE 2:26.81
28. Lisa Bremseth, NOR 2:26.87
29. Annemarie Gerg, GER 2:27.08
Other North Americans:
DNQ 2nd: Brigitte Acton, Emily Brydon, Kelly Vanderbeek, CAN; Kirsten Clark, Bryna McCarty, USA.
DNF 1st: Sarah Schleper, Lindsey Kildow, Kristen Mielke, USA.

THE SCOOP

Equipment
Women’s GS, Hafjell-Kvitfjell, March 5, 2006
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1. Rienda, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
2. Hosp, Volkl/Fischer/Marker
3. Poutiainen, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker
4. Dorfmeister, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
5. Paerson, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
6. Kostelic, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
7. Simard, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
8. Putzer, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol
9. Maze, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
10. Fanchini, Dynastar/Lange/Look

Women’s Giant Slalom, Hafjell-Kvitfjell, Norway, March 5, 2006. … It is the 30th event of the women’s 34 race, two combined World Cup schedule. … It is the eighth of nine scheduled giant slaloms. … There are six races remaining on the women’s schedule: one DH, one SG, one GS and three slaloms. … It is the final race of three at Hafjell-Kvitfjell.

It is the sixth career win for Maria Jose Rienda Contreras. … All in GS. … It is her fourth win of the season and third straight World Cup GS win. … She has won more World Cup races than any other Spaniard.

It is the 21st career podium for Nicole Hosp (including the knockout slalom of Dec. 14, 2002). … Her 12th career podium in GS. … It is her sixth podium of the season, including a silver medal in slalom at the Olympics. … She has finished in the top 10 in 18 of the 20 races she has completed this season.

It is the 17th career World Cup podium for Tanja Poutiainen. … Her sixth in GS. … It is her second podium of the season after a silver medal in GS at the Olympics.

It is the 11th career top seven in World Cup for Genevieve Simard, all in GS or SG. … It is her fifth top seven of the season, including a fifth in GS at the Olympics. … It is the seventh career World Cup scoring result for Stacey Cook. … Her second and career best in GS. … All of her scoring results have come this season. … It is the 21st time Libby Ludlow has completed a World Cup race in 21st place or better. … It matches her seventh best result of the season. … It is the 77th career World Cup scoring result for Julia Mancuso. … Her 27th of the season. … It is the third career scoring result, all in GS, for Christina Lustenberger. … And third of the season. … It is the 24th career World Cup scoring result for Resi Stiegler. … And seventh of the season.

Janica Kostelic (sixth in race) maintains the World Cup overall standings lead 1540-1296 over Anja Paerson (fifth in race). … Michaela Dorfmeister (fourth in race) is third in the overall standings with 1228pts. … Top American is Lindsey Kildow (1st run DNF) at 857. … Paerson holds the GS standings lead 550-505 over Rienda. … Nicole Hosp is third at 401 and cannot win the GS crown. … Genevieve Simard is the top North American on the GS list in seventh with 263pts. … Julia Mancuso is the top American in a tie for 10th place with 190pts. … Winning margin is .25 of a second. … Top seven skiers are within a second. … Top 13 within two seconds.