Janica Kostelic clocked the fastest time in the first run of the combined slalom in which she started with bib # 1 and beat by half a second the reigning combined World Champion Martina Ertl.

The winner of the past two World Cup combined events, Renate Goetschl was third fastest, losing only 1,06 seconds on the leader. Canada's Genevieve Simard, 3rd at Berchtesgaden in slalom, was 4th at 1,16.

Austria's Christine Sponring, 2nd at St Anton last winter, skied out of the course while Michaela Dorfmeister, the downhill World Champion is a far 9th.

A perfect course for Janica

Janica, who painted the name of her brother Ivica on the nails of her left hand before to race, was quite happy to start with bib # 1, a number she normally doesn't enjoy to wear.

"The course was perfect for me, I think that it will soon be in bad shape" she said at the finish line.

"I skied OK, not as fast as I wished. I need to build up a strong advance on the downhill skiers such as Renate Goetschl to be assured a medal in the final standings. I feel some pain at my left knee and I don't know how much I'll be able to attack during the downhill race".

"I would be happy to welcome my brother and my mother with a medal when they will fly in this evening".

The top-favorite in the World combined at St Anton last year, Kostelic crashed in the slalom after a solid downhill.

This year she was 2nd at Saalbach despite strong pains at her back during her slalom race.

It's the first time of the season that Janica set a best time in a slalom run. She was 3rd at Berchtesgaden and 4th in Super-G at Cortina d'Ampezzo. Here she aims for medals in combined, Super-G and slalom.