Almost 20,000 fans turned up in Sestriere on Dec. 10 to cheer him on to his second slalom victory of the year.

It was not easy to match Phil Mahre's giant slalom victory in 1983.

That was after she had won the World Cup overall title in 2001, a distinction earned primarily by a streak of eight consecutive slalom victories.

In the World Cup he won seven slalom victories.

That year she won seven of 16 events, taking the over-all title with four giant slalom victories plus two in slalom and one in downhill.

It was also her third consecutive giant slalom victory, giving her team its third triumph in as many days.

Sykora, seeking his fifth straight slalom victory and sixth this season, finished seventh.

Miller has been the shocking story of the season with three slalom victories and a giant-slalom victory.

Dating to the end of last season, the Italian's run of slalom victories is eight.

Schneider is already in the record book for her 10 consecutive slalom and giant slalom victories.