Switzerland

Pranger wins men's slalom in Wengen

Wengen, Switzerland  - Austria's Manfred Pranger claimed victory in the men's slalom in Wengen Sunday while France's Jean- Baptiste Grange came home sixth to retain his lead in the discipline's World Cup standings.

Pranger registered a winning time of 1 minute 40.36 seconds for his two runs, finishing 34 hundredths ahead of compatriot Reinfried Herbst with Croatia's Ivica Kostelic third in 1:40.75 minutes.

France's Grange continues to lead the slalom standings with 349 points after five of 10 events, followed by Kostelic on 305 and Pranger on 219 points.

Defago triumphs to prevent Miller hat-trick in Wengen downhill

Didier DefagoWengen, Switzerland - Didier Defago gave Swiss fans a home victory in alpine skiing's downhill classic at Wengen on Saturday.

Defago edged Bode Miller by 0.20 seconds to prevent the American winning a hat-trick of World Cup victories on the spectacular 4.445-kilometre-long Lauberhorn course.

It was only a second career World Cup victory for 31-year-old Defago, whose single previous win was in a super-G in December 2002.

Defago posted 2 minutes 31.98 seconds in perfect sunny weather on the World Cup's longest downhill run, with Miller followed on the podium by fellow American Marco Sullivan, 0.39 seconds behind the winner.

Janka delights home crowd with super-combined win

Ski RaceWengen, Switzerland - Carlo Janka gave hosts Switzerland a perfect start into the Lauberhorn ski race weekend on Friday when he won a super-combined World Cup event.

Janka, 22, placed second in the morning's downhill portion and a good slalom run earned him a second career win in a combined total 2 minutes 34.16 minutes.

Peter Fill of Italy trailed by 0.22 seconds in second place with 2:34.38 and Silvain Zurbriggen added more joy for the home fans with third place in 2:34.56 minutes.

"I couldn't expect this. The slalom went very well. The fans really helped me," said Janka.

Swiss nationals arrested in Brazil human-trafficking swoop

Lugano, Switzerland - Six people have been arrested in Switzerland and Brazil accused of running human-trafficking ring, police said on Thursday.

Sweden's Larsson suffers concussion in downhill practice

Sweden's Larsson suffers concussion in downhill practice Wengen, Switzerland  - Swedish skier Markus Larsson suffered a concussion and facial injuries on Wednesday when he crashed during the first training for the Lauberhorn World Cup downhill ski races.

Race spokesman Hugo Steinegger said that Larsson, 30, briefly lost consciousness when he crashed in the final section of the downhill course. He was taken to a hospital in Interlaken by helicopter.

Lucky number three for GS winner Raich

Adelboden, Switzerland - Benjamin Raich completed a hat-trick of giant slalom victories in Adelboden on Saturday and with it claimed first place in the overall World Cup and discipline standings.

The Austrian Raich, 30, hung on to his first-run lead for a winning total of 2 minutes 24.95 from two runs.

Massimiliano Blardone of Italy came second in 2:25.19 minutes. Rising Norwegian 72 Kjetil Jansrud got his first career podium in third place with 2:25.67 minutes, up from 14th place in the first run.

"It is a very tough hill, that's good for me," said Raich.

Pages