THOMAS SYKORA held off Italy's Alberto Tomba to win the slalom and Guenther Mader won the combined event, to give Austria a winning double in the World Cup at Kitzbuhel, Austria, yesterday. Sykora, 27, recorded the first World Cup win of his career with his narrow victory over overall champion Tomba by just 0.06 seconds.

Sykora, who had a 0.04 seconds advantage from the first leg, clocked a two-run time of one minute 34.24 seconds.

Tomba, who had been seeking his fourth consecutive slalom victory. was hampered by a sore right knee and a cold and had to settle for second place with 1:34.30.

Slovenia's Jure Kosir, considered one of the circuit's best technical skiers, but with only one win to his name, continued to be frustrated in his bid for a second victory and finished third with 1:34.46.

The 31-year-old Mader's combined triumph, following his downhill win on Saturday, was the 13th victory of his World Cup career. He was joined on the podium by team-mate Hans Knaus, in second place.