Alpine skiing
MEN'S WORLD CUP: Fredrik Nyberg of Sweden posted two powerful and trouble-free runs on Thursday to win a men's World Cup giant slalom at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.
Nyberg finished in a two-run time of 2 minutes, 1.66 seconds, 0.25 seconds ahead of Benjamin Raich of Austria. Home-crowd favorite Uros Pavlovcic came in third in 2:02.00.
Raich, ninth after the first run, took the lead after his second run only to watch Nyberg go back ahead. The second-place finish signaled the young Austrian's return to top shape after struggles with a back injury.
A tricky gate setting on the traverse going into the final descent was set on an icy patch, and many of the more experienced skiers failed to take cleanly.
Frederic Covili of France, who has won two giant slaloms this season, finished ninth.
Bode Miller of Franconia, N.H., was 16th. Overall World Cup leader Stefan Eberharter of Austria was eighth, and giant slalom specialist Michael von Gruenigen of Switzerland finished 18th.
Biathlon
WORLD CUP: World champion Magdalena Forsberg secured her fifth straight World Cup victory Thursday, winning the women's 15-kilometer individual biathlon at Brezno-Osrblie, Slovakia.
The 34-year old Swede won in 49 minutes, 46.9 seconds, missing just one target. Ukraine's Olena Zubrilova was second, 2 minutes and 53.7 seconds behind. She missed four targets.
Katja Holanti of Finland came in third, 3 minutes and 3 seconds behind Forsberg.
The competitors had difficulties with shooting due to strong winds and heavily falling snow at this central Slovak resort.
The competition continues Friday with the men's 10-kilometer sprint followed by the women's 7.5-kilometer sprint.