Skiing: Janka clinches title

Janka: Overall title

Carlo Janka of Switzerland confirmed his emergence on the World Cup scene when victory in the final giant slalom of the season earned him the overall title.

Janka, who claimed the gold medal in the giant slalom at the Winter Olympics last month, was fastest on the first run in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and still had 0.31 seconds in hand over Davide Simoncelli of Italy at the end.

Ted Ligety shared the final place on the podium with Austria's Philipp Schoerghofer 0.26secs behind but the American earned enough points to keep him at the top of the table in the final giant slalom standings, 71 points ahead of Janka.

"It's incredible for me to win this at the age of 23," said Janka, who is also the reiging world giant slalom champion. "It was totally unexpected because I was sick with my virus, so I never expected to be challenging for the World Cup.

"It has been an amazing season with ups and downs. To have won the big three at my age is perfect. It has been a long time for Switzerland and this is something I'm really glad about."

Benjamin Raich was the only man able to challenge Janka for the overall title entering the final weekend of racing but the Austrian could finish only eighth after giving himself too much to do after the first run.

"Janka has been incredible this year," he said. "I was fighting hard until the end but Janka was a level above me.

"You have to accept this. I'm very proud of it, I was also third in the giant slalom World Cup which means I had a good season."

It also means Raich will finish second in the standings for the fifth time in six years having lifted the title for the only time in 2006.

Saturday's slalom will bring the World Cup season to a close.

Result:
1. Carlo Janka (Switzerland) 1:08.43 1:12.44 2:20.87
2. Davide Simoncelli (Italy) 1:08.60 1:12.58 2:21.18
3=.Ted Ligety (U.S.) 1:08.71 1:12.73 2:21.44
3=.Philipp Schoerghofer (Austria) 1:09.14 1:12.30 2:21.44
5. Didier Cuche (Switzerland) 1:09.16 1:12.33 2:21.49
6. Kjetil Jansrud (Norway) 1:09.00 1:12.63 2:21.63
7. Alexander Ploner (Italy) 1:09.57 1:12.32 2:21.89
8. Benjamin Raich (Austria) 1:09.76 1:12.14 2:21.90
9. Ivica Kostelic (Croatia) 1:09.71 1:12.49 2:22.20
10. Romed Baumann (Austria) 1:09.81 1:12.58 2:22.39

Giant slalom standings
1. Ted Ligety (U.S.) 412 points
2. Carlo Janka (Switzerland) 341
3. Benjamin Raich (Austria) 331
4. Davide Simoncelli (Italy) 311
5. Massimiliano Blardone (Italy) 309

Overall standings
1. Carlo Janka (Switzerland) 1197 points
2. Benjamin Raich (Austria) 1091
3. Didier Cuche (Switzerland) 952
4. Aksel Lund Svindal (Norway) 883
5. Ivica Kostelic (Croatia) 779