GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN - Reigning world giant slalom title-holder Kathrin Hoelzl is still struggling with back problems ahead of Thursday's race, but Olympic champion Viktoria Rebensburg is over her 'flu.

Hoelzl, 26, trained on Monday for the first time after a three-week layoff having suffered from persistent back problems, but is still not pain-free as she battles to defend her title at the world ski championships.

"She complained after the training session of having sore muscles, but we can control that. I hope she can race on Thursday," said Germany's director of Alpine sports Wolfgang Maier.

Rebensburg, 21, also stepped back on to skis for the first time on Monday following a heavy dose of 'flu which forced her out of the Super G on Feb 8.

"The 'flu cost me a lot of strength, but now I feel really good again," said the 21-year-old.

Rebensburg is ready to add the world giant slalom title to the Olympic gold she won in Vancouver almost a year ago.

But the biggest threat to the Germans comes from Austria's Elisabeth Goergl, who is going for her third straight gold and is in the form of her life at the fortnight-long championships.

She turns 30 on Sunday, the last day of the championships, and has already claimed Super G and downhill gold medals.

Having won giant slalom bronze in Vancouver, Goergl is looking to upgrade to another world gold as he lives up to her nickname here of 'Golden Goergl'.

The Austrian - who sings the official song of the championships "Between Heaven and Hell (You're the hero)" - has said the conditions at the Kandahar course suit her aggressive style of skiing.

"This is my gig, I like this type of snow and I am looking forward to the giant slalom," said the all-rounder. "This type of snow is in my favor, it doesn't matter if it is icy or not, you can ski aggressively. You can push forward."

Another all-rounder with a proven giant slalom record is Slovenia's world and Olympic silver medalist Tina Maze, who won silver in last week's super combined here.

Likewise, France's Tessa Worley leads the World Cup standings for giant slalom ahead of Rebensburg, but overall leader Maria Riesch will also be among the top skiers.

The race will be missing three-time World Cup winner Lindsey Vonn, who announced on Monday she was quitting the championships to focus on trying to win a fourth straight crystal globe.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 02/17/2011 page23)