Skiing: Hoelzl wins in Aspen

Hoelzl: Proved doubters wrong

Kathrin Hoelzl proved her World Championship gold medal performance was no fluke by earning her first World Cup victory in Aspen on Saturday.

The German, who took a surprise giant slalom gold in Val d'Isere earlier this year, set the record straight with a combined time of two minutes 09.63 seconds.

Austria's Kathrin Zettel, second in the season-opener in Soelden last month, had to settle for the runner-up spot once again, losing by 0.24 seconds.

Third place went to Italian Federica Brignone, earning her first podium place at 19 in only her fifth World Cup race.

Hoelzl was fastest in the morning run on the icy course and she held her position thanks to a clean afternoon performance.

"The equipment was great today. I did not like Aspen very much in the past but I do now," said Hoelzl, who had been on a World Cup podium only twice in the past.

"Of course I had won the gold medal last year but to do it again in a World Cup race was something else. It's essential because it gives me a lot of confidence for the Olympics."

American Lindsey Vonn again proved incapable of overcoming her giant slalom jinx. The 2008 and 2009 overall World Cup champion hit a stone in the morning run and failed to qualify for the second leg.

Vonn, who has won 22 World Cup races in all disciplines except the giant slalom, will be out for revenge in Sunday's slalom on the same piste.

Result:
1. Kathrin Hoelzl (Germany) 1:03.70 1:05.93 2:09.63
2. Kathrin Zettel (Austria) 1:04.10 1:05.77 2:09.87
3. Federica Brignone (Italy) 1:05.12 1:05.64 2:10.76
4. Maria Pietilae-Holmner (Sweden) 1:04.25 1:06.93 2:11.18
5. Eva-Maria Brem (Austria) 1:04.30 1:07.46 2:11.76
6. Tina Maze (Slovenia) 1:04.91 1:06.95 2:11.86
7. Manuela Moelgg (Italy) 1:06.09 1:05.78 2:11.87
8. Nicole Gius (Italy) 1:05.67 1:06.26 2:11.93
9. Denise Karbon (Italy) 1:05.66 1:06.30 2:11.96
10. Viktoria Rebensburg (Germany) 1:05.84 1:06.49 2:12.33

Standings:
1. Kathrin Zettel (Austria) 160 Points
2. Kathrin Hoelzl (Germany) 136
3. Tanja Poutiainen (Finland) 105
4. Maria Pietilae-Holmner (Sweden) 95
5. Tina Maze (Slovenia) 90

Overall:
1. Tanja Poutiainen (Finland) 165 points
2. Kathrin Zettel (Austria) 160
3. Kathrin Hoelzl (Germany) 136
4. Maria Riesch (Germany) 131
5. Tina Maze (Slovenia) 112