Levi, Finland - Defending world slalom champion Maria Riesch of Germany claimed victory Saturday in the opening women's slalom World Cup race of the season on the Black Course in Levi. Riesch also led after the first run and secured her win in the second World Cup race of the season with a combined time of 1 minute 48.71 seconds.
Overall world champion Lindsey Vonn of the United States finished in second place, eight hundredths of a second adrift in 1:48.79 with Finland's Tanja Poutiainen a distant third on 1:49.87 minutes.
Poutiainen, who won the opening giant slalom race of the season last month in Soelden, Austria, continues to head the overall standings with 160 points after two of 33 races. Riesch lies second on 113, followed by Vonn on 109.
