By The Associated Press

KITZBUEHEL, Austria – Austria’s Manfred Pranger cried on podium after winning a slalom Sunday for his first World Cup victory while Benjamin Raich cut into Bode Miller’s lead in the chase for the overall title.

Pranger covered the two runs in 1 minute, 31.51 seconds. Countryman Mario Matt, the 2001 world slalom champion, was runner-up and Croatia’s Ivica Kostelic prevented an Austrian sweep by finishing third.

Miller lost his balance and failed to join the top 30 for the second leg. He nearly swerved off course a few gates from the bottom and was forced to finish the gates from the reverse direction, leaving him 2.11 off the pace.

“I was getting stuck a lot,” Miller said. “The snow changes the whole way down. It’s little parts of really grippy snow and little parts of icy snow.”

It was the fifth slalom Miller has failed to finish this season. The only one the American completed was the night race he won in Sestriere, Italy, in mid-December.

Miller’s early exit allowed Raich to narrow the gap in the overall standings. The Austrian finished eighth and earned 32 points, leaving him 166 behind Miller. Miller, who leads with 1,048, earned 60 points in the last four races and Raich 192.

“I haven’t been skiing enough slalom to feel super comfortable on that,” Miller said. “But you see guys like Raich and (Kalle) Palander who ski a ton slalom and they’re still having problems there.”

The top U.S. skier was Ted Ligety in 12th place.

Pranger, known for his growls and grunts at the start of the race, became teary on the podium before 20,000 Austrian fans, including his blue-capped fan club, which recited a slow, solemn song in his honor.

“I was in the military six years ago and every Monday I would watch the Austrian flag being raised,” he said. “And I’d always dreamed that maybe one day that would happen for me at a ski race.”

Pranger was fourth last week and his previous top-three finish was second place in Flachau just more than a year ago. He had the fastest time in the opening leg at four previous slaloms, but each time was unable to keep his lead.

Women’s competition

Finland’s Poutiainen wraps up slalom title

MARIBOR, Slovenia – Finland’s Tanja Poutiainen captured the overall slalom title Sunday, establishing herself as one of the favorites for the world championships.

She finished third in a race won by Sweden’s Anja Paerson, a slalom winner for the first time this season. Paerson tore down the slope on a sunny day to finish both runs in 1 minute 32.38 seconds, 0.28 ahead of Croatia’s Janica Kostelic. It was her 14th World Cup victory.

The also race underlined the strength of the U.S. women’s team. Sarah Schleper was fourth to match a career best while Kristina Koznick was fifth and Lindsey Kildow 11th. The three seem to be peaking, judging by this week’s performances leading to the start of the world championships next Sunday at Santa Caterina, Italy.

“I think the whole team is confident,” said Kildow, who won a downhill at Lake Louise, Alberta, this season. “But the best thing is not to think about medals and concentrate on good skiing.” Schleper’s fourth-place finish capped the best month of her career – she already had posted a fifth and sixth place.

“Because we have such a strong team, it gives everybody confidence,” Kildow said. “We support each other and back each other up.”

Poutiainen was third in 1:32.73, wrapping up the slalom title with 520 points entering the final race in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. Marlies Schild is second with 376, followed by Koznick at 355.

Paerson won the slalom and giant slalom events last year in Maribor during an outstanding season in which she captured 11 races on the way to the overall title. But it’s been a rough year for the Swede, who skidded out in three out of the seven slaloms so far this season. Her previous best slalom result this season was second at the opener Aspen, Colo.

“This place is special for me,” Paerson said. “It’s been a frustrating year in slalom. It’s good to come back in good shape for the upcoming world championships.”

On Sunday, she was almost flawless in taking a first-run lead and stringing together heat times of 45.57 and 46.81 in perfect weather at the Goldenfox, one of the easiest stops on the women’s tour.

Poutiainen has had a breakthrough year with four victories and nine top-three finishes.

“I’m even more relaxed now because no matter what happens, I’ve had a special season,” the Finn said.

Until this season, Poutiainen had reached the podium just six times and collected one win.

“It’s the little things this year,” she said. “I had a good summer training, I’ve been healthy – it gives me a lot of confidence.”

She also built her lead in the overall standings and now has 902 points. Kostelic is at 879 and Paerson jumped to third with 856. Kildow is sixth with 691.

AP-ES-01-23-05 1443EST