World Cup comes to Zagreb

The race "constitutes a sporting event the kind of which our country hasn't seen in a long time," brother Ivica said last week.

Kostelic, who returned to the circuit after a thyroid operation and several stints of knee surgery this season, obviously pencilled Zagreb on the calendar when the season started:

"A win at Sljeme would definitely be the one closest to my heart," she said last week.

After a solid week in Cortina which saw Janica go second and fourth in the weekend downhills, the 23-year old knows she's peaking at the right time:

"But I'm not getting carried away with these results. It is strange though that I am doing better in speed events. I'm calm and pleased and taking each race as it comes," said Kostelic who will be aiming for success in the world championships in Bormio and Santa Caterina later this month.

Austria's Renate Goetschl, who won three in a row in Cortina last week, knows that with the slalom taking place in Kostelic's backyard, her nine-point lead atop the World Cup standings could be short-lived indeed:

"It is probably all going to change this week," said speed specialist Goetschl.

"To be honest I'm not really thinking about the overall prize, it is not within my grasp. I'm more focused on the individual titles," said the 29-year-old who also leads in the downhill and super-G disciplines.

Defending overall World Cup champion Anja Paerson could also come front and center ahead of the start of next week's world championships in Bormio.

After an up-and-down season, technical specialist Paerson posted a career-best fifth place in last Sunday's downhill in Cortina and relishes the thought of visiting Maribor.

Paerson has won both races on the Slovene slopes for the last two seasons and has claimed a total of six career victories there.

"I am hoping for my seventh win at Maribor, I'd love to do it. I'm feeling strong and despite competing in all disciplines, I'm not feeling tired. What I need to do now is to step up my technique," said the Swede.

In what is a fascinating, wide-open race for the overall title this season, Finland's Tanja Poutiainen, who led before Cortina, will have a chance to regain control again.

Poutiainen leads the standings in both slalom and giant slalom after a season of remarkable consistency.