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Italian Heel claims men's Super-G victory

  • Story Highlights
  • Local favorite Werner Heel wins the men's super-G at Val Gardena on Friday
  • The 26-year-old is the first Italian to claim victory on Saslong slope since 2001
  • Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal retains lead at top of overall World Cup standings
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(CNN) -- Local favorite Werner Heel has won the men's super-G at Val Gardena, the first Italian to prevail at the Saslong slope since 2001.

Heel powers down the Saslong piste to become the first Italian to win at Val Gardena since 2001.

Heel powers down the Saslong piste to become the first Italian to win at Val Gardena since 2001.

The 26-year-old recorded a time of one minute 35.04 seconds to beat Didier Defago of Switzerland and Sweden's Patrik Jaerbyn of Sweden by 0.43 and 0.45 seconds respectively, to add this to his victory in last year's opening downhill at Kvitfjell in Norway.

Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal retained his lead at the top of the overall World Cup standings on the strength of his wins in the downhill and super-G at Beaver Creek a fortnight ago.

"I was a little fortunate to start in front because after the sixth and seventh competitors the wind picked up. At the end I knew I hadn't made any mistakes but it was hard to know if that was enough to make the podium," said Heel.

Defago was delighted with his performance. "My two training runs had gone well and it was here that I won my first World Cup race six years ago."

Jaerbyn, at 39 the veteran of the race, added: "It makes me happy to beat my record of being the oldest skier at 39 to make a World Cup podium.

"I underwent knee surgery in September 2007 and didn't compete last season. This was my fifth race of the season but I won't be going to Bormio for the downhill on December 28, instead I'm returning to my place in the United States to be with my wife and two children."

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