Hirscher and Holdener victorious in Stockholm

Marcel Hirscher moved a step closer to a fifth overall alpine skiing World Cup title with victory at the city event in Stockholm on Tuesday night, as Switzerland's Wendy Holdener took her maiden World Cup win.

Austrian Hirscher went into the event in Sweden with an 88 point lead from Henrik Kristoffersen in the overall standings, and his Norwegian rival lost in the first round to compatriot Kjetil Jansrud.

The 26-year-old Hirscher cruised through the early rounds but was pushed hard in the final by Swede Andre Myhrer, who produced an excellent comeback in the second run, before losing by only 0.06secs.

Italian Stefano Gross edged out Russian Aleksandr Khoroshilov to finish third.

Hirscher's first victory since January 6 also cuts the gap to Kristoffersen at the top of the slalom discipline standings.

In the women's competition overall World Cup leader Lindsey Vonn was beaten in her first race by eventual winner Holdener, but her main rival for the crystal globe, Lara Gut, also lost out to Veronika Velez-Zuzulova.

Although the crowd did not get to see a home winner as Frida Hansdotter could only match Myhrer's runner-up effort, Maria Pietilae-Holmner made it three Swedish podiums for the evening by beating Nina Loeseth for third.

22-year-old Holdener came out on top in a close final, but home skiier Hansdotter still extends her lead over Velez-Zuzulova in the slalom standings.
Source :AFP