World Cup Skiing : Tomba Regains Form to Win His First Slalom

Answering critics who said he was overweight and out of shape, Alberto Tomba returned to the site of his first ski race Sunday and won his first race of the World Cup season.

“It’s one of the most important wins of my career,” said Tomba, 21, a double 1988 Olympic gold medalist, after winning both slalom heats.

Tomba, in front of 20,000, one of the largest to see a ski race at Italy, defeated Luxembourg’s Marc Girardelli and young Austrian Michael Tritscher.

Tomba was criticized in Italy after failing to finish the inaugural slalom in Sestriere last Tuesday and a giant slalom in Val Thorens, France.

“World War III will break out if I don’t win this time,” Tomba said before the race.

Sunday’s triumph at the Dolomite resort where he began competitive skiing was his 10th in the World Cup.

Girardelli said he could not have done placed higher than second or third place.