MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, Italy (AP) -- Other skiers complain they have little time to train. Giorgio Rocca has made a concerted effort to set aside more time for practice this season and his plan is starting to pay off.

Italy's Giorgio Rocca clears a gate during the first run of a World Cup Men's slalom, in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Monday, Dec. 12, 2005. Rocca set the third fastest time. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

The Italian won his second straight World Cup slalom race Monday night, boosting his status as a top medal contender for the host country at the Turin Olympics.

Bode Miller, sixth after the opening run, straddled a gate in his second run and was eliminated from the competition. The American still leads the overall standings with 378 points.

It was Rocca's eighth career slalom win, tying him with Gustavo Thoeni for second-place all-time among Italians behind Alberto Tomba's 35 victories in the discipline.

Rocca skipped Sunday's super-combined race in Val d'Isere, France and headed to the Olympic hill in Sestriere for training instead.

"That was definitely a key decision. I was very well rested and I skied fast," Rocca said.

U.S. Ski Team head coach Phil McNichol agreed.

"He had a good plan. He trained for this," McNichol said. "He really killed it. It's always nice to see the local guy win."

Rocca covered the artificially lit Canalone Miramonti course in a combined time of 1 minute, 32.26 seconds, with thick snow flakes falling during the second run.

Benjamin Raich of Austria finished second, 0.25 seconds behind, and Kalle Palander of Finland was third, 0.89 back.

"It looks like we have a new Tomba," Palander said of Rocca.

Rocca, who also won the season's opening slalom in Beaver Creek, Colo., this month, is atop the slalom ranks with a perfect 200 points.

Another American, Ted Ligety, finished sixth, and with 100 points is second to Rocca in the slalom standings following his career-best third-place finish in Beaver Creek.

Ligety almost fell down backward at one point in his second run, sticking his arms out to regain his balance.

"Ted is now obviously pushing for the podium. He made two big mistakes in both runs, so to finish sixth with those I'm very impressed where he is right now," McNichol said.

Miller has now finished only two of his last 17 slalom races, in all categories.

"Bode was actually skiing some of the better slalom I've seen in the second run and he straddled, that happens in slalom," McNichol said.

Miller, who has not skipped a World Cup race since March, 2002, complained after his first run that he has no time to train.

"There's not really a lot of time right now," he said.

First-run leader Raich was the final skier of the night and was set to beat Rocca's time until he made a minor error just before crossing the finish line. Raich's split time in the second leg was 0.57 faster than Rocca's.

"I made a mistake, not a big mistake, but that's slalom racing," Raich said.

After Raich crossed the line and Rocca's name remained on top of the scoreboard, fans began jumping up and down and chanting for "Giorgone."

Italy's Giorgio Rocca reacts on podium after winning a World Cup Men's slalom, in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Monday, Dec. 12, 2005. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

"This is a very important win for Italian skiing. The hardest thing to do now is continue like this," Rocca said, with a nod to the Feb. 10-26 Olympics. "But I'm not afraid, I prepared myself well this summer."

Rocca had a bit of a tougher time in the opening run under waning sun light. He is partially color blind and wears special goggles to differentiate between the red and blue colored gates.

Tied for third after the opening run, he went all out in the second.

"I had a lot of fun in the second run, I made a big comeback," he said, adding that he would try to fit in some more training in Sestriere before the Olympics.

Associated Press
Monday December 12, 2005 3:52PM