MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, Italy (Reuters) - World champion Ivica Kostelic battled to victory in a men's World Cup slalom race Monday but said he feared his season could be over due to a serious knee injury. The Croatian, brother of triple Olympic and World Cup champion Janica, was only sixth after the first leg but produced a faultless second run under floodlights on the Canaloni Miramonti course to take victory in one minute 33.26 seconds.

The win was even more impressive given that Kostelic skied the second half of his run after the injury and was hardly able to walk in the finish area.

"While I was in the middle section I felt a click. I'm afraid my season might be over. We will do some tests but I have a bad feeling," said the 26-year-old.

"I just hope it is not very serious. It hurts a little when I walk but we have to consult the doctors and see what the MRI test shows," he said.

Kostelic has suffered from a series of knee injuries throughout his career -- between 1998 and 2001 he was unable to finish a season without being sidelined through injury.

The latest injury is to his right knee which has been operated on four times in the past -- the last time was in February 2001 when he had surgery on his miniscular ligament.

Vedran Pavlek, manager of the Croatian Ski Federation, said the early indications were that he had suffered injury to the same ligament.

"It doesn't look so good. It is hard to give a prognosis so quickly but at the moment it looks like it is the back part of the miniscular (ligament)," said Pavlek.

HOME CHEER

Giorgio Rocca provided plenty for the home crowd to cheer about with second place in 1:33.57 while Austria's Manfred Pranger, who was quickest in the first leg, settled for third with 1:33.68.

France's Pierrick Bourgeat, second fastest after the first leg skied out when a podium position looked within his grasp.
Italian Rocca takes over top spot in the slalom standings from Rainer Schoenfelder, who finished sixth.

"It's great to take the leader's bib in front of my fans and I am so excited about this season. I'm going to party big style tonight," he said.

Olympic champion Jean-Pierre Vidal and American all rounder Bode Miller both failed to qualify for the second leg while Kalle Palander of Finland picked up no points after failing to finish his second run. 

By Simon Evans, Mon December 15, 2003 02:56 PM ET , Reuters

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