Austrians Have a Strong Combination

Austrians, led by downhill bronze medalist Renate Goetschl, are 1-2-3 in the World Cup standings going into today’s combined (one downhill and one slalom.) But Goetschl claims Croatian Janica Kostelic should be favored.

Kostelic, fourth in the standings, won the overall World Cup title last season with victories in seven of eight slalom races.

Caroline Lalive of Truckee, Calif., placed third in the super-G in last year’s world championships and is considered the best American hope in the combined. She was seventh in the event in 1998 at Nagano.