Palander scores first win of season

ALTA BADIA, Italy -- Finland's Kalle Palander held on for victory in a men's World Cup giant slalom with a time of 2:28.82 on Sunday, triumphing on the course where he won his first race in the discipline.

Palander's first-leg lead was enough to combat a course that was running slower in the second run and left his challengers, some of whom had to ski in drizzling rain, unable to catch up with his impressive opening run.

Bode Miller of the United States, who won in the super-G at Val Gardena on Friday, had a great second leg to move up from seventh to second, 0.51 seconds behind Palander.

Switzerland's Didier Defago was third, a further 0.08 seconds behind, while defending overall World Cup champion Benjamin Raich of Austria was fourth.

It was the first victory of the season for Palander, who also won the giant slalom race at Alta Badia in December 2003 and confirms his recovery from the injury he suffered at the end of last season at Aare in Sweden.

Palander underwent a cruciate ligament operation on his left knee and spent 40 days in rehabilitation in Croatia before the start of the season.

"I never expected to get a win before Christmas, I have come back really quickly," said the Finn, who returned to skis just 30 days before the scheduled start of the World Cup campaign.

"But I love this hill, I really don't remember skiing badly here. You get so much respect from the other skiers when you win here, and this feels like payback time for me," he added.

Miller, who said he was still struggling to sleep after being barred from using his mobile home by the U.S. team, was baffled by his lack of pace on the first leg.

"I skied well, and I couldn't believe I went in 1.7 seconds behind after making virtually no mistakes. But overall it was a phenomenal race for me on this hill," the American told reporters.

There was disappointment for the home fans with Davide Simoncelli -- a specialist in the discipline, who has four podium finishes at the venue -- failing to hold on to his second place from the first run.

Simoncelli dropped to eighth after a slow second run while Max Blardone, winner of the season's first giant slalom at Beaver Creek earlier this month and victor at Alta Badia last season, ended in joint 13th.

Palander heads the giant slalom standings with 136 points after two races in the discipline. Italian Blardone is second, 16 points behind.

Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal retained the lead in the overall rankings with 386 points, 23 more than Didier Cuche with Miller in third. Champion Raich is seventh on 226 points.

Alta Badia will host a slalom race on Monday.