PHOTO: Croatia’s Kostelic Still First in World Cup

In Italy Croatia's Ivica Kostelic skied despite his back problems. With 766 points he is still the best skier in the world.

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Croatia's Ivica Kostelic passes a pole during the first run of a Alpine Skiing World Cup Slalom race in Kitzbuehel

Translation

Lajla Mlinarić Blake

Author
V.D.

File photo

TEXT

PHOTO

Published: February 21, 2009 15:43h

Croatia’s best skier, Ivica Kostelic, mustered up all his strength and went to Sentriere, Italy, to take part in a grand slalom competition and managed to maintain his advantage in the World Cup, which is a big achievement, taking into consideration that grand slalom was not one of Ivica’s best discipline. Reuters-.--.-Benjamin Raich of Austria clears a gate during the giant slalom event in the Men's Alpine Skiing World Cup in the northern Italian ski resort of Sestriere

Ivica ended the grand slalom race in Sestriere 11th, 1.51 seconds behind the first, Didier Cuche, who celebrated with the results of 2:49:57.

In the overall standings of the World Cup, Kostelic now has 766 points, followed by Benjamin Raich with 740 points and Jean-Baptiste Grange with 726 points.

It is a huge deal that Kostelic skied in Italy at all, since his back pain has not become any better, which is why he skier more carefully. He is not facing the super combination discipline which is being skied tomorrow, and then he has a couple of days of rest.

But new challenges face him in Kranjska Gora in a week’s time where the slalom race is taking part on February 28 and grand slalom on March 1.

See the photo gallery: World Ski Cup in Sestriere

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