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Kostelic wins from 64th starting spot

ASPEN, Colo., Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Croatia's Ivica Kostelic pulled off one of the biggest upsets in World Cup skiing history Sunday when he came from the pack to win the season's first slalom race.

The older brother of women's overall World Cup champion Janica, Kostelic, wearing a starting bib number of 64, twisted his way down a deteriorating Ruthie's Run course in a two-run combined time of one minute, 38.81 seconds to claim his first career win.

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Only Liechtenstien's Marcus Foser has come from farther back to claim a World Cup win, crossing first in the 1993 Val Gardena downhill while wearing a starting bib number of 66.

"It's unbelievable," he said. "I think I'm dreaming and the race will be tomorrow. This is great because Janica won here last year. I talked to her between runs and she told me I was going to win."

Italy's Giorgio Rocca added to a day of upsets when he came from the 26th starting position to take second in 1:38.93. World champion Mario Matt of Austria, the leader after the opening leg, settled for third in 1:39.00.

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Casey Puckett posted the top American finish, placing 14th in 1:40.53.

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