Dominant Maze wins ski World Cup

MARIBOR, Slovenia (AFP) –

Tina Maze of Slovenia competes during the first run of FIS World Cup women’s slalom in Maribor, Slovenia on January 27, 2013. Maze wins her seventh World Cup race of the season .

Slovenian Tina Maze won her seventh World Cup race of the season here on Sunday as she triumphed in the slalom in front of her home crowd.

The 29-year-old – celebrating her 18th career World Cup victory – timed 1min 33.68sec over the two legs, 00.86secs quicker than Frida Hansdotter of Sweden while Austrian Kathrin Zettel was third, 1.13sec adrift.

Maze, second in Saturday’s giant slalom behind American great Lindsey Vonn, has been the dominant force in women’s skiing this season and was recording her 17th podium finish in 25 races.

“It was wonderful to cross the line in front of my compatriots,” beamed Maze.

“I wanted to deliver their victory for Slovenia (…) But Schladming (the world championships), will host the most important races of the season.”

Maze, who already has won the World Cup giant slalom title, extended her lead in the overall World Cup standings which she is all but certain to win for the first time.

Both her major rivals for the crown failed to make the second leg, German Maria Hoefl-Riesch didn’t finish the first run and Vonn didn’t qualify after posting the 36th fastest time.

The Slovenian is on course to reach the symbolic total of 2000 points in a season, she presently has 1664, which only Austrian legend Hermann Maier has broken in the history of the World Cup.