SPINDLERUV MLYN (Czech Republic), Jan 5: Italy’s Denise Karbon continued her impressive start to the World Cup season when she won her fourth successive Alpine skiing giant slalom on Saturday in two minutes 16.98 seconds, according to provisional results.

Karbon is now one victory short of compatriot Deborah Compagnoni’s feat 10 years ago, when the Italian won the first five giant slaloms of the winter.

The 27-year-old policewoman was put under pressure by Finland’s Tanja Poutiainen, who finally had to settle for second place, 0.39 seconds off the pace.

It was the third podium place of the season for Poutiainen, who was 0.10 adrift after the first leg.

Elisabeth Goergl confirmed she was the best Austrian specialist in the discipline by taking third place, a further 0.20 seconds behind.

“It’s again a surprise,” said Karbon, who leads the World Cup standings in the discipline. “But with such a big lead over my rivals for the giant slalom crystal globe, I can be relaxed and just let the skis do the job.”

Goergl’s third place avoided another debacle for the Austrian team, even if five of them made it into the top 10.

World champion Nicole Hosp, who has yet to win a giant slalom this season, was a disappointing fifth, while Marlies Schild finished last on the first leg after missing a gate.

Winner of nine of the last 12 World Cup slaloms, Benny Raich’s girlfriend is struggling with her form. In Lienz last week, she finished 24th in a giant slalom and even failed to finish a slalom.—Reuters