Girardelli Is Upset by Nilsson in Men’s Slalom : Young Swede Scores His First World Cup Victory at Alpine Championships

BORMIO, Italy â€”  Sweden’s Jonas Nilsson upset heavy favorite Marc Girardelli in the men’s slalom at the World Alpine Skiing Championships Sunday and won the title previously held by veteran Ingemar Stenmark.

The Austrian-born Girardelli, the overall World Cup leader skiing for Luxembourg, finished second in the closing event of the championships, while Robert Zoller of Austria wound up third. Stenmark, sixth after the first run, finished fourth overall.

It was Sweden’s only medal during the championships dominated by the Swiss, who won four golds, three silvers and one bronze.

Nilsson finished fourth in the slalom at last year’s Winter Olympics at Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, missing a bronze by .05 of a second.

“I said to myself ‘never fourth again,’ � the jubilant 21-year-old Nilsson said afterward. “This is my first victory but I’ve had two previous second places in World Cup slalom racing this season.�

Nilsson, considered the heir to the legendary Stenmark in the slalom, said that after finishing third in the first run down the Ortler track “I knew I had a chance at a medal, but I never thought of a gold.�

Nilsson’s victory was one of three major upsets at the championships. In the women’s giant slalom, Diann Roffe of the United States came from obscurity to take the gold over a field of seasoned competitors, while West Germany’s Markus Wasmaier upset Sweden’s Pirmin Zurbriggen and Girardelli to win the men’s giant slalom.

Nilsson had suffered from a cold during most of his time in Bormio, sharply cutting into his training time.

Nilsson had heat times of 49.33 and 49.49 for a total of 1 minute 38.82 seconds, finishing .06 of a second ahead of Girardelli, who had heat times of 49.01 and 49.87 for 1:38.88. Zoller had heats of 49.67 and 49.68 for an overall time of 1:39.35, while Stenmark’s combined was 1:39.74.

Girardelli was allowed to compete in Bormio only after a signing a pledge that he was serious about seeking citizenship in Luxembourg, the country for which he skis. The 21-year-old has said that the continuing questions about his citizenship and eligibility have cut into his concentration.

“It’s impossible to win all the time,� said Girardelli. He has won seven World Cup races this season to build up a healthy 215-179 lead over Zurbriggen in overall points.

Of the four U.S. team skiers, none finished the race. They were John Buxman of Vail, Colo., Felix McGrath of Norwich, Vt., Daniel Stripp of Old Forge, N.Y., and Tiger Shaw of Stowe, Vt.

Sunday’s course, with a vertical drop of 202 meters, was marked with 69 and 66 gates for the two runs.