French skier Tessa Worley capitalized on her first run lead in the FIS Audi women's World Cup giant slalom race in Are, Sweden, on Saturday, winning the race by more than a half a second in a combined time of 2 minutes, 23.22 seconds.

It was just the second victory of the young racer's World Cup career. Worley, who just turned 20, also won last year's GS race in Aspen, and has only landed two other World Cup top 10s since 2007.

"I didn't want to calculate so i just went like the first run," Worley said. "It was a bit tougher the second, but I'm really happy I did it. I can't really believe it yet but I'm so happy. It's great."

She edged Are defending GS champion Tina Maze of Slovenia, who was .57 seconds behind her. Kathrin Zettel, who has finished on the podium in every race she's done so far this season, was third, .69 seconds back. She was second in the Aspen and Soelden GS races and third in the Aspen slalom. She missed the slalom in Levi due to illness.

After unleashing her trademark roar in the start gate, Vail's Sarah Schleper landed her best result since February 2006, finishing eighth on Saturday.

Schleper, who finished second in a NorAm slalom race in Loveland, Colo., following her 23rd place in the last Cup GS race in Aspen, crossed the finish line in Are and said to the cameras, "Denise, I miss you. Come back soon," presumably speaking to Italian GS specialist, Denise Karbon, who is sidelined for the next couple of weeks following a meniscus tear in the Aspen GS race on Nov. 28 and ensuing minor surgery. Julia Mancuso was the only other American in the second run, finishing 16th.

"I just skied clean and i was doing what i've been doing in training and that paid off," Schleper said. "I tried to attack and do everything right."

Schlep went from 19th after the first run to first after the second run for a combined time of 2:24.94. She said she was fired up by touching her hip to the ground around a gate at the top of the second run.

"That pumped me up to go even faster," she said. "I put it on my hip, after that I was like, 'Come on!  Keep charging. I started getting off my edges a little more. I couldn't ask for a better second run."

Karbon's teammate, Federica Brignone, who landed the first World Cup podium of her career in Aspen a couple of weeks ago, was fourth Saturday (2:24.33), waving to the cameras after her run saying, "Ciao mama."

Maze and Zettel were tied for second after the first run, as German Maria Riesch was right behind them in third. In her second run, Riesch was leading after her first two splits, but slid on her hip and crashed near the bottom of the run, not appearing to be injured.

Lindsey Vonn, who continues to find soaring success in every other discipline besides GS, also failed to finish the race, skiing off course at the top of the first run, one of 13 racers, including teammate Sterling Grant, who didn't finish the first run.

There were four crashes in the second run and only 26 athletes finished the race.

The women's World Cup continues Sunday in Are with slalom. Watch it live on universalsports.com.

by Shauna Farnell

Photo: (GEPA) Tessa Worley stands atop the podium with Tina Maze (left) second and Kathrin Zettel third.

Frontpage photo: (GEPA) Worley fires down the GS course in Are.

The SCOOP
By Hank McKee

Women's Giant Slalom. Are, Sweden, Dec. 12, 2009
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Worley, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
2 Maze, Stoeckli/Lange/Rossignol
3 Zettel, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
4 Brignone, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol
5 Hoelzl, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
6 Kirchgasser, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
7 Pietilae-Holmner, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
8 Schleper, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol
9 Goergl, Head/Head/Head
10 Paerson, Head/Head/Head

Women's Giant Slalom, Are, Sweden, Dec. 12, 2009. … It is the eighth race of the women's 32 race World Cup schedule. … The third of seven scheduled giant slaloms. … The first of a two race technical series at Are. … It is the 77th World Cup race held at Are. … The 25th GS. … Ingemar Stenmark and Renate Goetschl hold the site win mark with five victories each. … Tina Maze won the last GS at Are March 14, 2009. … Are has never hosted a World Cup this early in a season with all previous race held in February or March.

It is the second career win for Tessa Worley, the previous coming in GS at Aspen in November 2008. … She has no other podiums. … Her previous best at Are had been 11th in March 2009. … It is the first French victory of the season.

It is the 18th career World Cup podium for Tina Maze. … Her 11th in GS. … She won a GS at Are earlier in this calendar year, March 14. … they are her only two top 10's at Are in seven completed races. … It is the first podium of the season for Slovenia.

It is the 27th career World Cup podium for Kathrin Zettel. … her 14th in GS. … It is her first podium at Are. … It is her fourth podium of the season in four completed races, all three GS's plus the Aspen slalom.

It is the 31st time Sarah Schleper has been eighth or better in a World Cup. … but it is her best result since March 12, 2005 when she won the Lenzerheide slalom. … The result matches her best at Are, first achieved in 2002. … It is the 164th scoring result for Julia Mancuso. … It is her fourth score this season. … It is her fifth best Are result.

Lindsey Vonn (first run DNF) leads the overall World Cup standings 389-361 over Maria Riesch (2nd run DNF). … Zettel is third at 280. … Emily Brydon is top Canadian in 10th with 154. … Zettel leads the GS standings 220-181 over Kathrin Hoelzl (fifth in race). … Maze is third at 170. … Schleper is the top American in 14th with 173pts. … Austria leads the women's Nations Cup 1029-876 over Germany. … The U.S. is third at 638 and Canada 8th at 430.

Official Results: