Skiing: Ilka Štuhec clinches Alpine combined
Val d'Isere, 16 December - Slovenia's Ilka Štuhec, the stand-out performer in the World Cup this year, won the Alpine combined in Val d'Isere on Friday, her third win of the season.
Maribor
Skier Ilka Štuhec.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA
Štuhec finished third in the downhill and clocked in the eighth fastest time in the slalom to edge Michelle Gisin of Switzerland by 0.12 seconds. The Italian Sofia Goggia was another 0.05 seconds adrift.
The 26-year-old was not among the favourites prior to the start of the season, but exploded on the US leg of the World Cup, where she won consecutive downhills on 3 and 4 December, her first career podium finishes.
The early season results made her a favourite in the downhill, but given that she is a speed racing specialist the combined win was a surprise.
"I'm trying to practice all events when possible. I am trying to focus and show my best, a tactic that appears to be working," Štuhec told reporters.
After 10 of 37 World Cup races, Štuhec is fourth in the overall standings and leads the downhill and combined standings.