Mancuso takes GS lead
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ByEurosport
Published 13/02/2007 at 16:17 GMT
Julia Mancuso took the lead after the first run of the women's giant slalom at the World Championships in Are. Anja Paerson, going for her fourth gold, was seventh on a course designed by her coach and father Anders.
ALPINE SKIING 2006-2007 Are Women's Super Combined Slideshow Mancuso
Image credit: Eurosport
But less than a second seperates the top 12 ahead of this evening's second leg.
American Mancuso had a small stumble four turns from home but still took the lead in a time of 1:13.55.
"That mistake actually helped me find the perfect line past the last few gates," she told reporters. "It's one of the toughest giant slaloms we've had this season. It's very tight and I'll have to fight for it in the second run."
The first starter, Genevieve Simard of Canada, and Sarka Zahrobska of the Czech Republic were surprisingly tied for second, 13 hundreths behind.
Torino bronze medallist Anna Ottosson and World Cup discipline leader Nicole Hosp are tied for fourth a quarter of second behind the pacesetter.
"It was not a perfect run", said downhill bronze medallist Hosp. "I made a few mistakes but I'm still confident."
20-year-old Maria Pietilae-Holmner edged ahead of her more fabled compatriot Paerson who has not had World Cup form in this discipline and failed to find any rhythm as she dropped .44 back.
"I couldn't manage to make my skis turn the way I wanted them to and I struggled to find the right line," Paerson said.
"It's a very difficult course," she added. "Without those few mistakes I would probably be up there."
Finland's Tanja Poutiainen, runner-up in giant slalom to Paerson in Bormio at the last World Championships, follows in eighth but her coach Michael Bont will set the course for the second leg.
Slalom favourite Marlies Schild crashed out early in her opening run after her skis clashed coming out of a gate.
"My leg is really hurting right now," the Austrian said. "Hopefully I'll be fine in time for the slalom."
Stay with www.eurosport.com for LIVE streaming and split times of the second leg from 20:00 CET
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