Italian skier Denise Karbon has won her third straight women's World Cup giant slalom event by beating American Julia Mancuso in Lienz, Austria.
Karbon led after the first leg and finished with a combined time of 2:02.73 seconds. Mancuso was 1.28 seconds back after finishing well in the second leg.
Another Italian skier - Nicole Gius - was third, (1.62 seconds behind the winner). Karbon had won giant slalom events earlier this season in Sölden, Austria and Panorama, Canada.
American skier and giant slalom national champion Resi Stiegler had to be carried off the course on a stretcher after a spectacular crash. Stiegler suffered a broken arm, torn ligaments in her knee and a bruised face. She is expected to be off the slopes for several weeks.
Overall World Cup points leader Lindsey Vonn of the United States did not finish the race after placing 38th in the opening leg. Vonn remains atop the overall World Cup standings with 474 points. Mancuso is second overall, 30 points back. Nicole Hosp of Austria is third overall with 434 points.
The women's World Cup competition continues Saturday with a slalom race.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP.
