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Alexandra
Meissnitzer on a Roll
Alexandra
Meissnitzer has not lost her motivation after clinching
two gold medals during the recent World Championships
in Vail: the 25-year-old Austrian celebrated her ninth
success this season by winning the first of two giant
slaloms scheduled this week in Are, Sweden.
Meissnitzer
beat her teammate Anita Wachter by 65/100 of a second
and Norway's Andrine Flemmen by almost two seconds.
These three skiers have won all of the GS events this
winter as well as all three medals two weeks ago in
Vail.
"I
remain very motivated by the possibility to clinch my
first World Cup title this week - another top-3 place
on Wednesday could be enough to get the GS title..."
Alexandra Meissnitzer
Once more Anita Wachter forced Meissnitzer to ski at
her limits in the second run: only 22/100 of a second
separated both skier after the first run won by Meissnitzer.
"I
knew that I had to go for it in the second leg,"
said "Meissi" at the press conference.
"Anita
is in great shape and she fought hard to keep a chance
to win the GS World Cup title. I hope she will resume
her career next winter. It's obvious that she competes
with great pleasure and a perfect momentum after her
dramatic injury from last year. She is really amazing."
"I
had no other choice than to take all risks in both runs
to beat her," added Meissnitzer.
"I
had a nice break at home last week and I feel ready
for more action even if I'm tired as all the other skiers.
The pressure to clinch the World Cup is a strong boost
for my momentum."
Switzerland's
Sonja Nef, who placed 2nd here last year, came in 4th
this time, only 8/100 behind Flemmen. Sweden's Anna
Ottosson, 3rd in 1998, was 5th in front of Italy's Deborah
Compagnoni, who still fights for her first win this
season. It was again a bad day for the German team:
last year's winner, Martina Ertl, didn't finish the
first run while Hilde Gerg was a far 26th. It does not
seem that any of them will prevent Meissnitzer from
becoming the third Austrian champion to capture the
overall World Cup title after Annemarie Moser-Proell
and Petra Kronberger, who won it nine times together.
Canada's
Allison Forsyth was the best skier from North America
in 19th position. USA's Caroline Lalive was 28th. Her
teammate Kirsten Clark didn't qualify for the second
run.
This
is Meissnitzer's tenth World Cup win since the 1995/96
season and it dramatically reinforced her lead in the
overall and the GS standings. With 450 points lead over
Hilde Gerg in the overall rankings, she is practically
unbeatable until the Finals at Sierra Nevada, Spain.
And Anita Wachter, who clinched her overall title here
in 1993, doesn't believe in her chance to pass her in
the GS standings.
"Alexandra
remains focused and motivated despite all her recent
successes. I don't see how I could beat her in this
moment," said the 32-year-old veteran who won the
giant slalom in Are back in 1995. "This season
has been wonderful and I don't want to think about my
future right now. I will have time to take a decision
next spring. I'm having much fun when I compete. It
has never been so easy for me in the past. I ski at
my best and I still hope to win one of the last two
giant slalom races this season. Then I'll see!"
In
the slalom planned for Tuesday evening, Australia's
Zali Steggall will go for her her first World Cup win
this season 10 days after capturing the slalom gold
medal in the Vail Worlds. But the Swedish skiers, who
yet to win a race in Are, will be tough to beat.
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