CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy - Anja Paerson of Sweden used a first-run advantage to win a giant slalom race Sunday and edge overall World Cup leader Janica Kostelic, who had a blistering second run. Paerson's combined time of two minutes, 32.48 seconds was 1.10 seconds faster than that of the Croatian, who finished runner-up after posting the 14th-fastest time in her first trip down the Olimpia Tofane course.

It was Paerson's first GS victory and third win overall this season following slalom titles in Aspen and Sestriere. Her previous best result in the GS this winter was a runner-up finish in Bormio two weeks ago.

 Anja Paerson

She was also second in the GS at last year's Olympics.

"I feel so confident in my skiing right now, I don't have to ski safely," Paerson said when asked if she felt pressured by Kostelic's run. "I didn't feel like I had to risk something. Right now I'm in maybe my best shape in GS.

Janica Kostelic

"I just felt comfortable and knew if I had my rhythm in the second run I would be all right."

Italy's Karen Putzer finished third, 1.43 seconds behind.

Karen Putzer

"I must say I maintained my form throughout the week," said Putzer, who had four top 10 finishes this week.

Kostelic, whose second run was considerably faster than anyone else's, increased her lead over Putzer in the overall standings to 503 points, while Putzer grabbed the lead in the GS standings from Switzerland's Sonja Nef.

Tanja Poutiainen also failed

Nef missed a gate and failed to qualify for the second run.

Silvia Berger fell in the 1st run

"I was pretty sleepy and skied (the first run) like a downhill or super-G run," Kostelic said. "I was not tired before the second run."

Michaela Dorfmeister

The runner-up result was the best of the week for Kostelic, who won three gold medals at the Olympics last year and has five victories this season.

She said she wasn't bothered by negative headlines concerning her brother and fellow skier Ivica Kostelic earlier in the week. In a magazine report, her brother compared his attitude before a race to that of a German soldier in World War II.

"I was pretty worried about him," she said, about the report's aftermath.

"It could have affected me, but I know when something is not true," she said. "When someone lies it's pretty hard. I know it's a lie, so I didn't have any problems."

Her brother apologized for making the remark and accused the Croatian magazine of twisting his words.

The real problem, according to Janica, was the grueling schedule of four races in five days.

"It probably affects me more mentally than physically," she said.

The top American finisher was Caroline Lalive in 10th place. Compatriot Kristina Koznick came in 27th.

Martina Ertl

Sunday's race, held under perfectly clear skies, rounded out a full week of competition in this northeastern Italian resort.

Kostelic, Paerson and Putzer

France's Carole Montillet won a super-G Wednesday and Austrian Renate Goetschl won another super-G Friday, followed by a downhill victory Saturday.

By ANDREW DAMPF, Associated Press Writer, 19.01.2003

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