Kostelic shines in night-time slalom

Croatia's reigning World Cup overall champion Ivica Kostelic won the men's slalom staged under floodlights here on Wednesday for his second success of the season. Kostelic, who takes over at the top of this season's standings, timed 1min 48.94 to beat Sweden's Andre Myhrer by .07s and Italy's Christian Deville (0.09s), Marcel Hirscher of Austria, leading the overall World Cup standings up to this race, failed to finish the second leg after trailing Kostelic by 1.27sec after the first run. The 22-year-old was having a rare off night in a season that has seen him pick up two wins and make the podium twice. Kostelic, who underwent knee surgery in April, was adding this to his win in the season-opening slalom in Beaver Creek, Colorado. France's world champion Jean-Baptiste Grange came in seventh as he gradually picks up the pace after his return from serious injury. The men's alpine skiing calendar takes a short break for Christmas, returning on December 27 for the downhill in Bormio, Italy, with the women returning with a giant slalom in Linz, Austria, 24 hours later.