Hermann Maier claimed his fourth World Cup title of the year today, winning the final men's giant slalom and equalling Ingmar Stenmark's record of 13 World Cup wins in a single season.
Maier, who had already clinched the overall, downhill and super-G World Cup crowns, led after the first run and stretched his advantage in the second to win by more than a second and overtake Swiss rival Michael von Gruenigen at the top of the giant slalom standings.
The 28-year-old Austrian posted a combined time of two minutes 31.23 seconds(1:14.75/1:16.48) to overtake world champion von Gruenigen in the chase for the season's giant slalom World Cup title.
Von Gruenigen, who had led the standings by 40 points from Maier going into the race, was second after the first run and appeared headed for at least second place, which would have given him the title.
But the 31-year-old Swiss racer slipped near the bottom of the Gaestrappet piste and, despite recovering enough to stay on course, finished fourth and lost the title.
American Erik Schlopy grabbed second place in 2:32.37 (1:15.16/1:17.21) and Austrian Benjamin Raich finished third in 2:32.51 (1:15.92/1:16.59).
Maier finished the giant slalom season with 622 points, 10 points ahead of von Gruenigen. Maier won five World Cup giant slaloms and von Gruenigen three.
The victory also put Maier in the record books alongside the great Stenmark, who was watching today’s race.
Maier ended his season with 13 World Cup victories - three super-Gs, five giant slaloms and five downhills - to equal the Swede's 1978/79 record of 10 giant slalom and three slalom wins.