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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 3:15 a.m., Friday, January 23, 2009

Skiing: Austria's Klaus Kroell wins World Cup super-G race

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Austria's Klaus Kroell celebrates in the finish area after winning an alpine ski, men's World Cup super G race, in Kitzbuehel, Austria.

GIOVANNI AULETTA | Associated Press

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KITZBUEHEL, Austria — Klaus Kroell of Austria won a men's super-G race Friday for his first World Cup title.

Kroell, competing with a broken hand, charged down the Streifalm course in 1 minute, 12.78 seconds to beat Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway by 0.22 seconds. Ambrosi Hoffmann of Switzerland took third, trailing Kroell by 0.39.

"Winning in Kitzbeuhel is so special. It's almost as big as winning the world championships," said the 28-year-old Kroell, who had four previous podium finishes — all in downhill.

Kroell broke three bones in his right hand while crashing at a training run in Wengen, Switzerland, eight days ago.

"Doctors advised me not to race to prevent possible further damage, but I was able to go to the limit," Kroell said.

Overall World Cup leader Benjamin Raich veered off course and did not finish but remained atop the standings with 638 points. Svindal is second with 598 and Jean-Baptiste Grange of France third with 576.

Defending champion Bode Miller of the United States finished 21st, 1.08 seconds behind Kroell, and is 10th in the standings with 395 points.

Hermann Maier of Austria, who led the super-G standings and won the race five times, was 12th and missed out on a podium finish in the Kitzbuehel super-G for the first time.