Schoenfelder wins World Cup slalom

KITZBUEHEL, Austria, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Austria's Rainer Schoenfelder collected his second career World Cup victory Sunday, winning a men's slalom that was filled with surprises.

Schoenfelder, who was sitting fifth after the opening leg, posted the third-fastest time in the final leg to clinch the victory in a two-run combined time of one minute, 36.88 seconds.

The Austrian was followed by teammate Kilian Albrecht, who made an even more remarkable climb into second from eighth with a time of 1:37.07.

American Bode Miller also followed the trend. Only seventh after the opening leg after breaking off the bottom of one of his poles, Miller delivered a comeback run to finish third in 1:37.09.

In contrast, leading by .16 seconds after the opening leg, Mitja Kunc of Slovenia dropped down to 10th after a dismal second effort, finishing in 1:38.14 -- 1.26 seconds behind.

Croatia's Ivica Kostelic, who was leading the World Cup discipline standings on the strength of a pair of wins this season, dropped from second into sixth with 1:37.69.

Reigning slalom world champion Mario Matt of Austria missed the second run after injuring his shoulder earlier in the day. He had hurt his right shoulder in training then dislocated it completely when he shoved out of the start hut in the opening leg. Matt could miss the Olympics in Salt Lake City if the injury requires surgery.

Norway's Kjetil Andre Aamodt won the combined event, which adds the times of the weekend's downhill and slalom. Aamodt, who also won the event in Wengen last week, produced a combined time of three minutes, 33.24 seconds.

Teammate Lasse Kjus was second in 3:39.10, while Austria's Michael Walchhofer was third with 3:40.50.