Maier and Paerson favorites to capture overall crowns in final weekend

Maier and Paerson favorites to capture overall crowns in final weekend{mosimage}Hermann Maier and Anja Paerson head into the last two races of the World Cup season as favorites to land the alpine World Cup’s top prizes.

But while 22-year-old Swede Paerson is almost certain to get her first overall title, the men’s battle that will wrap up this weekend at the World Cup Finals in Sestriere, Italy, could not be more intriguing had the sport’s organizers scripted it themselves.

Maier, who’s won the overall title three times before (in 1998, 2000 and 2001) is joined by fellow Austrians Stephan Eberharter and Benjamin Raich and American Bode Miller in a four-way fight for the top spot.

After storming to victory in the super G on Thursday, Maier holds a 42-point lead over defending champ Eberharter going into Saturday’s giant slalom.

Raich trails by 152 points with Miller a further 15 points back, but with 200 points possible and both excelling in the technical disciplines, the contest could, in the words of Maier “go right down to the last gate in Sunday’s slalom.”

Maier, who has 13 giant slalom victories in his illustrious career, could wrap up the overall title on Saturday, although his best showing in giant slalom this year is seventh.

A repeat of that would probably be enough, especially as chief rival Eberharter’s form in the discipline this season has been virtually non-existent.

“The biggest threat to me is myself,” said Maier, who felt his super G win on Thursday was his best since recovering from a serious motorcycle crash in 2001.

Eberharter, surprise gold medalist in giant slalom at the 2002 Olympics, shrugged off any title talk. “My goal was the downhill, which I won,” said the 34-year-old. “I can’t score as many points as the others in the technicals and my giant slalom has not gone well. But I’m relaxed and will just enjoy it.”

Miller’s chances of becoming the first American overall winner since Phil Mahre in 1983 have been hit by his failure to score any points in the speed events here. But he still has plenty of incentive, not least to win his first World Cup discipline title by holding off Finland’s Kalle Palander in Saturday’s giant slalom.

“Getting points in the super G and downhill would have been a bonus, but it’s not my bread and butter,” said Miller, who holds a 61-point lead over Palander in the giant slalom standings. “I can’t say I lost the overall title here. If anything I lost it in the Park City slalom and the Adelboden giant slalom (where he failed to finish).”

“(The giant slalom) is going to be a tactical race,” added Miller. “It’s a tough course, very long, and will probably help those guys in great physical shape like Maier.”

Palander will also have one eye on Sunday’s slalom, where he needs at least a podium finish to have any chance of overtaking Austria’s Rainer Schoenfelder and retaining his title. “Everything is open, everything is possible,” he said. “This season has been great for me because I was not expecting to do so well in giant slalom.”

Things are far more straightforward in the women’s competition with Paerson’s crowning as the world’s best woman skier appearing to be a mere formality.

She already has the giant slalom and slalom titles in the bag after an incredible 10 victories this season and needs just 26 points from the weekend to become Sweden’s first overall champion since Pernilla Wiberg in 1997.

“I only need a top 10 finish in the slalom on Saturday and as I’ve won six times this season I feel I can manage that,” said the Swede with a wry smile.