Janka captures first career overall crystal globe in Garmisch

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Posted: Friday 12th March 2010 | 13:23

CARLO Janka sealed his first career overall crystal globe with victory in the giant slalom at the World Cup Finals in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

SUPER SEASON: Switzerland's Carlo Janka caps off an impressive season with overall the World Cup title in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Getty Images)

The Swiss skier was an emphatic champion in Garmisch, beating Italy's Davide Simoncelli by 0.31 seconds to capture his second win of the week having romped to downhill gold on Wednesday.

The victory propelled the Swiss skier into second in the final giant slalom standings to go with his runner-up spots in the downhill and super combined.

But it's the overall crystal globe the 23-year old was after in Germany, and his sixth win of the season stretched his advantage over Austria's Benjamin Raich to 106 points with just Saturday's slalom race remaining.

Janka has gone from strength to strength in 2010, having struck giant slalom gold and downhill bronze at the World Championships last season.

The Swiss underlined his Olympic credentials by scooping the downhill, giant slalom and super combined treble during a memorable weekend on the Birds of Prey course in Beaver Creek in December.

And after struggling in the early events on his Olympic debut in Vancouver last month, Janka's confidence slowly returned and he struck gold in the giant slalom.

While Janka collected overall gold, Ted Ligerty sealed his second career giant slalom crystal globe at the World Cup Finals in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

American Ligerty had a 43 point lead over Italy's Massimiliano Blardone going into the final race in Germany and extended his advantage to 61 after finishing third.

The 25-year old, who won the giant slalom title in 2008 as well as Olympic gold in Turin four years ago, had one hand on the trophy after Blardone finished last in the first run.

But Ligerty still had to finish his second run and showed little sign of easing off as he raced down in 1:12.73 to tie for bronze with Austria's Philipp Schoerghofer.