SOELDEN, Austria, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Norway's Andrine Flemmen, Slovenia's Tina Maze and Austrian newcomer Nicole Hosp were linked in a historic three-way tie Saturday in a women's World Cup giant slalom marked by irregular racing conditions.
Hosp, 36th out of the starting hut, crossed 11th in the opening leg, then delivered the fastest run in the second for a two-run time of 1 minute, 49.91 seconds.
Maze, fifth after the opening leg, later tied the Austrian with her second run.
The pair watched anxiously as Flemmen, the leader entering the final leg, aggressively attacked the powdery course. The Norwegian crossed with an identical time, marking the first three-way tie in World Cup history.
It was Hosp's second World Cup race ever. The 18-year-old Austrian was 29th in a giant slalom in Maribor last year.
It also was the first victory for Maze, who is her third year in the World Cup. The Slovenian had placed second in Maribor last season.
Flemmen has two other World Cup wins, a giant slalom victory here in 1999 and another in Copper Mountain last season. She also was second at the 1999 worlds.
Norway's Stina Hofgard Nilsen placed fourth in 1:50.21, just ahead of Maria Jose Rienda Contreras of Spain.
Double defending World Cup giant slalom champion Sonja Nef finished a disappointing sixth in 1:50.36, dropping two places in the second run.
