LIENZ, Austria - Denise Karbon won her third straight women's World Cup giant slalom event Friday.

Denise Karbon, of Italy, passes a gate on her way to setting the fastest time during the first run of an alpine ski, women's World Cup giant slalom race, in Lienz, Austria, Friday, Dec. 28, 2007. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

The 27-year-old Italian led after the first leg and posted the fastest time in the final run as well to finish in a combined time of two minutes 2.73 seconds. American Julia Mancuso finished second, 1.28 seconds behind, climbing from fourth after the opening leg.

Nicole Gius was third, 1.62 seconds behind Karbon.

Italy's Denise Karbon, center, winner of the women's alpine skiing World Cup Giant Slalom celebrates on the podium with second placed U.S. Julia Mancuso , left, and third placed Nicole Gius, in Lienz, Austria,Friday, Dec 28, 2007. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

I had a cautious second run because I was well ahead and I knew two spots on the course which were dangerous," said Karbon, who skipped the recent speed disciplines to fully concentrate on the technical races.

Italy's Denise Karbon celebrates on the podium after winning the women's alpine skiing World Cup Giant Slalom in Lienz, Austria, Friday, Dec 28, 2007. (Ap Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Mancuso said she wanted to win the race after U.S. teammate Resi Stiegler was injured after crashing in the first leg.

"I gave everything to win it for Resi, but Denise was just incredibly fast," Mancuso said.

Stiegler, the U.S. giant slalom champion, was hospitalized with a broken left forearm, torn ligaments in the right knee and a bruised face and hip after crashing halfway down the course in the first run. Stiegler will be sidelined for several weeks, an official of the local hospital in Lienz said.

Stiegler, who started with No. 24, lost balance as her skies made contact in a curve. She fell and sled off course through two rows of gates at the edge of the course and rolled down two meters.

The race was interrupted for almost half an hour after the crash.

Defending discipline and overall World Cup champion Nicole Hosp was 16th after two disappointing legs.

Austria's Elisabeth Goergl passes a gate to setting the eight fastest time during the first run of an alpine ski, women's Wolrd Cup giant slalom race, in Lienz, Austria Dec. 28, 2007. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Overall World Cup leader Lindsey Vonn, who won a downhill and a super-combi last week, finished the opening leg in 38th place, 2.29 seconds behind, and did not qualify for the second leg, though kept her lead in the rankings.

Italy's Denise Karbon, center, winner of the women's alpine skiing World Cup Giant Slalom celebrates on the podium with second placed U.S. Julia Mancuso , left, and third placed Nicole Gius, in Lienz, Austria,Friday, Dec 28, 2007. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

The women's World Cup continues with a slalom in Lienz, Austria on Saturday.

By The Associated Press
December 28, 2007

RESULTS

Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Run 1 Run 2 Total Time FIS Points
 1  4  295445 KARBON Denise  1980  ITA   1:00.88  1:01.85  2:02.73  0.00
 2  2  537545 MANCUSO Julia  1984  USA   1:01.50  1:02.51  2:04.01  9.18
 3  14  295435 GIUS Nicole  1980  ITA   1:01.31  1:03.04  2:04.35  11.62
 4  8  55576 GOERGL Elisabeth  1981  AUT   1:01.97  1:02.49  2:04.46  12.40
 5  7  205993 HOELZL Kathrin  1984  GER   1:01.24  1:03.58  2:04.82  14.99
 6  3  185140 POUTIAINEN Tanja  1980  FIN   1:01.90  1:03.18  2:05.08  16.85
 7  5  296259 MOELGG Manuela  1983  ITA   1:01.91  1:03.20  2:05.11  17.07
 8  9  505760 PIETILAE-HOLMNER Maria  1986  SWE   1:02.04  1:03.08  2:05.12  17.14
 9  11  505483 PAERSON Anja  1981  SWE   1:02.49  1:02.65  2:05.14  17.28
 10  37  296476 ALFIERI Camilla  1985  ITA   1:02.95  1:02.27  2:05.22  17.85

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