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Zuzulova uses strong second run to claim victory
Source: Agencies |
December 31, 2012, Monday
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VERONIKA Velez Zuzulova of Slovakia upset the favorites to win a World Cup night slalom on Saturday in Semmering, Austria, for her first career victory.
She trailed overall World Cup leader Tina Maze by 0.55 seconds after the opening leg but overtook the Slovenian with a near-flawless final run.
Zuzulova finished in a combined time of 1 minute, 37.28 seconds. Kathrin Zettel of Austria was 0.10 back. Maze was third, 0.20 behind.
The rest of the field finished more than a second behind Zuzulova, who celebrated her victory by lying face-down in the snow in the finish area for about 30 seconds.
"A while ago I was almost thinking that it's impossible to win one day," said the 28-year-old Zuzulova, who has been racing on the World Cup circuit since 2000.
The Slovakian, who married her French coach Romain Velez in the offseason, said attacking was her only tactic for the final run.
"After the first run I was really happy," Zuzulova said. "But the second run was really difficult as I knew Kathrin had a good time. I had to attack, it was the only way I could win."
Zettel said she was "super happy. To get this result in front of your home crowd is such a great feeling."
Mikeala Shiffrin of the US, who led the slalom standings going into the race, straddled a gate and didn't finish her second run.
Defending overall champion Lindsey Vonn missed the race while recovering from an intestinal illness, and world slalom champion Marlies Schild of Austria is out for three months after knee surgery.
She trailed overall World Cup leader Tina Maze by 0.55 seconds after the opening leg but overtook the Slovenian with a near-flawless final run.
Zuzulova finished in a combined time of 1 minute, 37.28 seconds. Kathrin Zettel of Austria was 0.10 back. Maze was third, 0.20 behind.
The rest of the field finished more than a second behind Zuzulova, who celebrated her victory by lying face-down in the snow in the finish area for about 30 seconds.
"A while ago I was almost thinking that it's impossible to win one day," said the 28-year-old Zuzulova, who has been racing on the World Cup circuit since 2000.
The Slovakian, who married her French coach Romain Velez in the offseason, said attacking was her only tactic for the final run.
"After the first run I was really happy," Zuzulova said. "But the second run was really difficult as I knew Kathrin had a good time. I had to attack, it was the only way I could win."
Zettel said she was "super happy. To get this result in front of your home crowd is such a great feeling."
Mikeala Shiffrin of the US, who led the slalom standings going into the race, straddled a gate and didn't finish her second run.
Defending overall champion Lindsey Vonn missed the race while recovering from an intestinal illness, and world slalom champion Marlies Schild of Austria is out for three months after knee surgery.
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