ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP. Ivica Kostelic has clinched a world title, three Olympic medals, one slalom crystal globe and 12 World Cup races yet the Croat again failed to win one of the races that matter most to him at home in Zagreb on Thursday.

Croatia's Ivica Kostelic competes on his way to set the second fastest time during the first run of an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Zagreb, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

“For sure I was a little disappointed at first after I crossed the finish line in 2nd place, I was strongly hoping to make it this time after loosing twice in the past by only a few hundredths of a second" he told the press after the race," leaving the laurels to Swede Andre Myhrer for just a tenth of a second.

Sweden's Andre Myhrer competes during the first run of an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Zagreb, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

It was the third time in four editions that the brother of former ski star Janica, her country’s most successful athlete, finished in the runner-up spot on the very hill on which he learnt to ski with his family.

“It is not easy. No other skier is under as much pressure as I am. Austrians can afford to crash out in their big races, there are nearly a dozen others to avenge them. I’m on my own here,” he added. "Everybody expects me to do well here, and it's hard to remain fully focused in the days prior the competition with all those people who want to get a small piece from me. But at the end of the day, I can be satisfied with my performance this night as I really skied well in both runs. I didn't make any mistake; it was solid skiing from start to bottom. After having a look at the setting of the second run, I knew it would be extremely difficult to beat Myhrer here. The course setter designed a very fast and sometimes straight second run which perfectly fits the style of Andre."

For sure, the 2002 slalom World Cup champion cannot afford to go out here or the crowd would be too disappointed. Tension was extreme in the finish area where sister Janica, his Finish girlfriend Erin and his mother Marica, nervously praying in the middle of the huge crowd, were watching his second leg amidst a partisan crowd of nearly 25,000 spectators.

“I’m not disappointed but I would love to win it one day,” also commented Kostelic, winner of a parallel slalom in Munich on Tuesday and a strong 4th in the overall World Cup standings only 50 points behind Austria's Michael Walchhofer. He is 2nd in the slalom rankings behind Myhrer.

But the day’s honours and the now ritual award ceremony belonged to the tall Swede, who received a crystal crown, a gown and 42'000 euros for only his second World Cup victory, four years after his maiden triumph at Beaver Creek, Colorado.

Sweden's Andre Myhrer celebrates on the podium after winning an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Zagreb, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

The prize money might help him indulge in his passion for vintage cars, but it was also a revenge of sorts for the 27-year-old Swede, who was beaten by Kostelic for the silver medal at the Vancouver Olympic and also at Wengen a year ago.

“My Olympic bronze medal boosted my confidence,” said Myhrer, known for his skills on soft snow, but who also always skis on the brink and often crashes out.

“This victory comes just at the right time at the start of a month of January with five slaloms,” added the Swede, who was extremely proud to take the red bib as the leader of the discipline’s World Cup.

Myhrer added he was inspired by the performance of team-mate Mattias Hargin, who fought back from 30th and last qualifier after the first run to snatch his first podium, 0.36 off the pace.

Sweden's Mattias Hargin races to the third place, during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Zagreb, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

"The conditions were perfec for me and I felt very confident and relaxed prior the final run, I managed to give everything I had in me," he explained afterwards. "To win that prestigious event means a lot to me - there is no other place where you get a crown when you win," added the Scandinavian who likes to play hard rock on his guitar as Ivica Kostelic. "I'm part of a band and we are working on a song for the up coming World Championships at Garmisch-Partenkirchen," he said at the post race press conference.

Technical specialists will again be on their terrain in the classic Swiss weekend in Adelboden including a slalom and a giant slalom.

It could be a chance for Switzerland’s Silvan Zurbriggen to claim back the overall World Cup lead currently held by downhill ace Michael Walchhofer of Austria.

On Thursday, the Swiss missed a gate and climbed back to complete the course yet failed to score points after finishing outside the time limit. He missed a gate and had to walk back to pass it correctly, but lost much time with that incident. The Swiss didn't compete at Munich last week and was expecting more from that race after clocking the 8th best time in the first leg.

It was also a disappointing day for Austria as Reinfried herbst also finished a distant 8th ahead of Benjamin Raich, only 10th after being 3rd in the earlier round. The winner from Val d'Isère, Marcel Hirscher, was a far 15th a few hundredths behind France Jean Baptiste Grange who came in 12th after a very slow first run. He was one of the fastest in the final run. Italy's Olympic Champion Giuliano Razzoli was a frustrated 4th - only 4/100 of a second from the podium.

Italy's Giuliano Razzoli competes on his way to set the fastest time during the first run of an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Zagreb, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

The winner from last year was the fastest skier down the opening run. USA's Ted Ligety achieved one of his best slalom races in years to end at a promising 6th place. He was only 15th after the first run. He will be the skier to beat on Saturday in Adelboden's giant slalom.

By Patrick Lang
FISalpine.com
Thursday 6 January 2011

Sweden's Andre Myhrer, left, celebrates on the podium with third placed fellow-countryman Mattias Hargin after winning an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Zagreb, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)