SPINDLERUV MLYN, Czech Republic (AP)  -- Denise Karbon won her fourth consecutive World Cup giant slalom race on Saturday, capturing the first leg and finishing fourth in the second for a combined time of 2 minutes, 16.98 seconds.

Denise Karbon of Italy passes a gate on her way to setting the fastest time during the first run of an alpine ski world cup giant slalom race ,in Splinderuv Mlyn , Czech Republic, Jan, 5, 2008. (Ap Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Tanja Poutiainen of Finland finished second, 0.39 seconds back, and Elisabeth Goergl of Austria took third in 2:17.57 on the Cerna course.

Tanja Puotiainen of Finland passes a gate on her way to setting the second fastest time during the first run of an alpine ski world cup giant slalom race ,in Splinderuv Mlyn , Czech Republic, Jan, 5, 2008. (Ap Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Elisabeth Goergl of Austria passes a gate on her way to setting the third fastest time during the first run of an alpine ski world cup giant slalom race ,in Splinderuv Mlyn , Czech Republic, Jan, 5, 2008. (Ap Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Nicole Hosp, the defending discipline and overall World Cup champion, placed fifth and retained her lead in the overall standings with 559 points. American Lindsey Vonn was 11th and remained second overall with 504 points while teammate Julia Mancuso finished eighth. Mancuso is third overall with 476 points.

Karbon, who started the season with one career World Cup victory, said the second run was tough because she led by just 0.2 seconds.

"I knew I had to make a difference on the difficult steep part, and I tried to do it with a lot of courage and be aggressive," she said.

"Parts of the course were icy while other parts were soft and I had to cope with that. I was really happy to see my name next to the No. 1 in the finish. It's a fantastic feeling."

Denise Karbon of Italy celebrates after winning a women's alpine ski world cup giant slalom race, in Spindleruv Mlyn , Czech Republic, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Karbon had previously won giant slaloms in Soelden, Austria; Panorama, Canada; and Lienz, Austria.

Poutiainen, who secured her third podium finish this season, knew it would be difficult to beat Karbon.

"Yes, Denise skies really strong right now, it's amazing," Poutiainen said. "After the victories, you feel so confident you can just go out and do everything. The others have to ski without any mistakes to be able to compete. But we'll see next weekend when I'll have another chance to beat her."

Goergl was third after the first leg and had the same time as Poutiainen in the second.

"My first run was solid and the second was also good," said Goergl, who is still seeking her first World Cup victory.

Denise Karbon of Italy shows number four, as her World Cup victories this season, to celebrate at finish line after winning a women's alpine ski world cup giant slalom race, in Spindleruv Mlyn , Czech Republic, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Karbon, who leads the GS standings with 400 points and climbed to fifth place overall with 459, doesn't plan to participate in speed disciplines to increase her chances to win the overall trophy.

"GS will be my discipline in the future," she said. But "I'll try to do a little bit better in slalom."

The giant slalom and slalom will be held January 12-13 in Maribor, Slovenia.

AP
Saturday, January 5, 2008

Michaela Kirchgasser of Austria passes a gate on her way to setting the fourth fastest time during the first run of an alpine ski world cup giant slalom race ,in Splinderuv Mlyn , Czech Republic, Jan, 5, 2008. (Ap Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Denise Karbon, right, of Italy embraces runnerup Tanja Poutiainen, of Finland, at finish line after winning a women's alpine ski world cup giant slalom race, in Spindleruv Mlyn , Czech Republic, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Denise Karbon of Italy (C) Elisabeth Goergl of Germany (L) and Tania Poutiainen of Finland greet spectators in a finish area of the women's giant slalom FIS World Cup event in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic, January 5, 2008. REUTERS/Petr Josek(CZECH REPUBLIC)

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