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GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany: Olympic and world champion Carlo Janka won the men's giant slalom on Friday to be crowned the 2010 overall World Cup champion and claim the hat-trick of global titles.
Italy's Davide Simoncelli finished the race second with Austria's Philipp Schoerghofer joint third here with Ted Ligety of the United States which gave the American the overall giant slalom Crystal Globe for the season.
But the day belonged to Janka and having set the fastest time in the morning's first run, the 23-year-old Swiss star was supreme on the second with an overall winning time of 2 minutes 20.87 seconds with Simoncelli second at 0.31 second.
Schoerghofer and Ligety both crossed the line at 0.57 second back as a delighted Janka took the 2010 Crystal Globe to complete his collection of major titles.
"I knew that I had to win here and I was really pleased with the second run," said Janko, who won the Winter Olympic giant slalom gold in Whistler last month and the world title in Val d'Isere last year.
"Everything has come together for me this season and I have won everything that there is to win.
"It also all came together today for me: the weather, the snow, everything was perfect.
"I took the feeling all the way down to the finish-line in the exact way I wanted to."
Despite having now won everything at the top-level, Janko said he will not rest of his laurels.
"There are always more things to win, I will have to defend this title next year," he said.
"To be world, Olympic and World Cup champion at the age of 23 is something very special and it is something I am very proud of.
"To win a world championship or Olympic medal is just one race on one day, but with the World Cup title, you have to be consistent over the whole season.
"And I know there are things I need to improve on for next season."
Even with 100 points up for grabs in Saturday's slalom event, Janka cannot be caught by his rivals and has 1197 points for the season in the overall standings with second-placed Benjamin Raich on 1091.
"Carlo deserves it," said Austria's Raich, who finished the race eighth at 1.03 second back.
"He won six World Cup races this season, I only won one.
"I wasn't consistent enough.
"For sure I am disappointed, but the positive thing is that every season, I am fighting for the title.
"I have to accept second and I hope one day I could win the overall title."
Having battled with Raich all season, Janka paid tribute to his rival.
"Benni is one of the fairest athletes I have ever met," said the Swiss.
"If I hadn't won it, he would have deserved the title.
"The season must have been nerve-wracking for him too.
"Everytime one of us took the lead, the other would take it back."
Janko's compatriot Didier Cuche remains third in the overall standings on 952 points having finished fifth at 0.57 second.
Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal, who won a Super-G gold, downhill silver and giant slalom bronze at the Vancouver Olympic Games and is fourth in the overall standings on 883 points having crashed out of the morning's first run.
This was Janka's second victory here at the World Cup finals on the Kandahar course, which will host next year's world championships, having won Wednesday's downhill title. - AFP/de
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