Winter Sports Roundup : Schneider’s Win in Giant Slalom Extends Overall Lead

Vreni Schneider of Switzerland capitalized on a fall by her toughest challenger and won a women’s World Cup giant slalom race Sunday at Val Zoldana, Italy, extending her overall lead.

Schneider, a world and Olympic champion, won her third race of the season--her 16th World Cup triumph--edging Mateja Svet of Yugoslavia by one second after two thrilling runs down the Foppe track in the northern Italian Dolomites.

Schneider has 107 points after 6 races and a commanding lead in the overall standings.

Austrian Ulrike Maier, in second place with 63 points, did not pick up any World Cup points Sunday after a fall ended her bid.

After clocking the fastest first heat, Maier fell midway in the second run, ending her chance for her first Cup victory and Austria’s first in a women’s giant slalom since 1978.

Svet, an Olympic slalom silver medalist, said, “Schneider is the strongest skier at the moment and I could not hope to beat her. I am happy with second place. I had two good runs.”

Jan Bokloev of Sweden turned in the day’s longest jump of 115.5 meters on his first try and won the 90-meter event for his second victory of the season in the Sapporo World Cup ski jump competition at Japan.

Finishing second was Ari-Pekka Nikkola of Finland, who jumped 115.0 and 108.5 meters for 216 points.

Sweden’s Gunde Svan outdistanced teammate Torgny Mogren by 7.5 seconds to win a World Cup cross-country ski race at Folgardia, Italy to take over first place in the standings.

Svan’s time of 38 minutes, 33.5 seconds Sunday gave him a 2-day total of 1:14:17.6.