BORMIO, Italy (Reuters) - Swiss world champion Sonja Nef clinched her first World Cup victory of the season on Saturday with two error-free giant slalom runs in dazzling sunshine in Bormio.Nef's combined time of two minutes 24.39 seconds gave her a 0.27 second advantage over second-placed Swede Anja Paerson. World Cup champion Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria completed the podium places in a time of 2:25.64.

Croatia's Janica Kostelic, the runaway World Cup leader, crashed out heavily on her second run when well placed to steal victory.

Nef's 15th career win was particularly sweet for the 30-year-old who had managed just one podium finish so far this season.

"I'm very happy to finally take a first place this season after fifth and sixth," Nef said at the finish where she was met by a roar of cheers and horn blowing.

"I heard Janica had fallen before I left the start and I couldn't believe it. I knew I just had to keep my concentration."

Olympic giant slalom gold medallist Kostelic, who celebrates her 21st birthday on Sunday, appeared to be producing one of her customary charges as she chased a first ever World Cup giant slalom win, but went out of control and crashed into an advertising hoarding.

"I'm a bit dizzy but I'm fine," said the Croat, who confirmed she would race in the slalom on Sunday. "I took the gate too tight and the light was very bright and it was really bumpy out there."

BLINDING SUNSHINE

Runner-up Paerson said the blinding sunshine had made for a tough race at the northern Italian resort, which stepped in to stage this weekend's events after warm weather hit the German town of Berchtesgaden.

But the slalom world champion and Olympic giant slalom silver medallist was happy to be back after a disappointing race in Semmering last week when she fell in the first run.
"I had a terrible Christmas after Semmering," she said. "The first section was bumpy, but I felt really good on the second section. I know now I've got it in me, I'm really satisfied."
There was frustration for Italy's Karen Putzer who was hoping to add to her surprise giant slalom win in Val d'Isere last month but paid for a slow first run as she finished fourth.

Close to tears, the 24-year-old who is the nearest challenger to Kostelic in the World Cup standings, said: "It was not a good day for me. The light was bad but I just wasn't fast enough in the start."

By Rachel Sanderson (Reuters)

KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia (Reuters) - American Bode Miller seized the overall World Cup lead from Austrian Stephan Eberharter with his second successive giant slalom victory on Saturday.

 The 2002 Olympic silver medallist's victory in a time of two minutes 04.15 seconds also leapfrogged him to the top of the giant slalom standings ahead of Switzerland's Michael von Gruenigen.

It was left to Christian Mayer to salvage Austrian pride with second place, a distant 0.83 seconds behind Miller, while Finland's Sami Uotila took an unlikely third place in 2:04.99.

First leg leader Benjamin Raich of Austria slipped back to level fourth with surging American Eric Schlopy, while Frenchman Vincent Millet's hopes evaporated when he crashed on his second run.

Miller, who won in Alta Badia before Christmas, became the first American to win in the Slovenian resort since Phil Mahre's triumph in 1982.

"I did not ski too great on the first run and the second was not great for me but I made myself hard to beat," said the 23-year-old who now has 578 points to Eberharter's 555.

"On a given day you can race as hard as ever and get beat," added the American, commenting on last year's race when he was edged out by Raich. "It was almost the opposite of last year."

"I do not know where I lost it -- my first run was good and I like this slope but today was just not my day," said a disappointed Raich afterwards.

The Austrian held a commanding 0.42 second lead after the first run on the thin ribbon of artificial snow from the resurgent Millet who has been beating the rest of the French team in training.

OVERSHADOWED

But he was overshadowed in the second run by Mayer who snatched the lead from the pace-setting Uotila by a hundredth of a second and then watched as Millet crashed out.

Mayer, who is benefiting from brand new skis, said: "Nobody really believed I was coming back so well."

Equally delighted was Uotila who at one stage looked as though he might hang on for a shock victory. In the end he was satisfied with his second career podium finish after Alta Badia in 2001.

"It's been a great day," said the 26-year-old from Helsinki. "I had a small problem going over a stone in the first run but the second run was good."

World Cup champion Eberharter was far from happy after finishing a lowly 24th and he could find himself further behind Miller if the American continues his fine form in Sunday's slalom.

"I've lost the feeling in my skis," he said afterwards.

If Miller wins on Sunday he will emulate Swede Ingemar Stenmark who was the last person to win back to back giant slalom and slalom races in Kranjska Gora in 1978.

"I feel very confident and I'll be going out to win the race," he said. "I'm not thinking about the standings.

"It means a lot to win here. It's just a shame Erik (Schlopy) didn't get on the podium. We've dreamed for a long time of being on the podium together."

By Neil McQuoid (Reuters)

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