Mancuso cruises into lead

ByEurosport

Published 24/02/2006 at 09:14 GMT

Julia Mancuso skied with zest and aggression to create an upset in a shortened first run of the giant slalom in Sestrières. The American leads favourite Anja Paerson of Sweden by 0.18 seconds going into the decisive second run of the final Olympic women's

ALPINE SKIING 2005-2006 Torino 2006 Giant Slalom Women Julia Mancuso

Image credit: Reuters

"I didn't feel that great but it seemed to go pretty well," said Mancuso, who completed the snow-swept Colle course in a time of 1'00"89 to set an unexpected first run lead. "I'm just going to go out there and try and have a good second run."

Paerson, the hot favourite after the withdrawal of Croatia's Janica Kostelic, had moved into an early lead after leaving the starting gate in bib number three.

ALPINE SKIING 2005-2006 Torino 2006 Giant Slalom Women Julia Mancuso

Image credit: Reuters

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Having smashed the times set by both Tina Maze of Slovenia and Spanish outsider Marie Jose Rienda, the Swede looked on course for her second gold medal in three days - and her fourth in the Turin Olympics.

But Mancuso's superior run means Paerson lurks in second position, 0.18 seconds adrift. "I think I could do a whole lot better," the 25-year-old Paerson warned her rivals ahead of the second run.

"I was a bit sketchy at the top, but it wasn't as icy as I expected and I'm looking to do much better in the second run. I thought it would be slicker than it was so I will definitely change my skis for the second run," she added.

ALPINE SKIING 2005-2006 Torino 2006 Giant Slalom Women Anja Paerson

Image credit: Reuters

A place on the podium would see Paerson equal Kostelic's record of winning four medals in one Games. The Swede already has one gold and two bronzes to her name, whilst her friend Kostelic, too exhausted to race today after being struck down by illness, won three golds and a silver in Salt Lake City.

"Of course, there's more pressure on the other girls than me so I'm just going to go out there and have fun," Paerson said, before adding: "And try and win the gold."

Finland's Tanja Poutiainen is currently in third position, 0.32 seconds behind Mancuso's landmark time. After a disappointing World Cup season, and only sixth place in Wednesday's Olympic slalom, the Finn is looking to turn things around in style.

ALPINE SKIING 2005-2006 Torino 2006 Giant Slalom Women Tanja Poutiainen

Image credit: Reuters

"Yeah, it was a good run," Poutiainen conceded at the finish line. "I have a good feeling. It's great, the course is nice, a little icy, but ok. It's really tight at the top, but I'm pleased. Let's see what happens after the second run."

Adverse weather conditions - light slow and heavy fog - meant that the organisers made the decision to shorten the course ahead of Friday morning's inspection run. The decision did not go down well with all the racers.

"It's too bad that it has been shortened, it was all over too quickly," said Canada's Genevieve Simard, who set the sixth best time, 0.58 seconds behind Mancuso.

ALPINE SKIING 2005-2006 Torino 2006 Giant Slalom Women Germany Ertl-Renz

Image credit: dpa

"I skied good and I couldn't have taken any more risks," said Simard. "I put myself in a good position and now I have nothing to lose."

Other racers in touch with the top three include Austria's Nicole Hosp, fourth at 0.37 seconds, and German veteran Martina Ertl-Renz, fifth at 0.55.

With the time gaps so slender, it is all still to play for in the second run at 13:00 CET. Follow all the action live on Eurosport and eurosport.com!!