Croatia's Kostelic wins Wengen slalom

Croatia's Ivica Kostelic won the World Cup slalom here on Sunday, his 22nd victory on the circuit and one that brought him to within 30 points of Austrian Marcel Hirscher in the standings. Kostelic clocked 1min 45.67sec over the two runs for his sixth win in Wengen including four slalom victories, finishing 0.85sec ahead of Sweden's Andre Myhrer, with German Fritz Dopfer a further 0.03sec off the pace in third, his first podium. Kostelic, the reigning World Cup slalom and overall champion, also won Friday's super-combined, raced over a downhill and slalom. "I have so many great memories of this course," beamed Kostelic. "I think I have a link to this piste which I don't have with others. I follow ski history and have a lot of respect for former champions. "So when people tell me I have matched Ingemar Stenmark, who was the only racer previously to have managed three straight slalom wins here, it's a big honour. It makes me proud." Myhrer said he was aware of Kostelic's love affair with the venue. "I was second two years ago behind Ivica. I know he always finishes strongly at Wengen."