Alpine skiing: Svindal retains super combined title

Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway reacts after his downhill part of the men's super combined race at the Alpine Skiing World Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen February 14, 2011.

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) - Norwegian Aksel Lund Svindal ended the run of world championships upsets by retaining his title in the super combined Monday.

Svindal was more than one second fastest than his rivals over the two legs consisting of a downhill and slalom as he collected the fourth world title of his career.

He was the first big name to win a race at an event which has seen a string up shock wins.

Italian Christof Innerhofer continued his outstanding week by collecting his third medal of the championships following his gold in Super G and bronze in downhill.

His compatriot Peter Fill sprung another surprise by winning bronze while the unhappy Swiss again left empty-handed.

Olympic champion Bode Miller's hopes disappeared with an almost slapstick fall.

Tenth in the downhill, Miller sped out of the start but his slalom run lasted just seconds as he tripped up after the second gate and flipped onto his backside, skis pointing upwards.

Svindal's chances were helped by the decision of Ivica Kostelic to skip the event. The Croat decided to rest to concentrate on the season-long World Cup which he leads and where he has won all three combined races.

Svindal led after the morning's downhill race, completing the course 0.63 seconds ahead of Swiss Beat Feuz.

Austrian Benjamin Raich, eventually fourth, set the pace during the slalom with a combined time of two minutes 56.68.

He held on to that spot as several skiers failed to complete the course including Miller, fellow American Ted Ligety and Swiss Silvan Zurbriggen.

Fill made no mistake as he briefly held the lead before Innerhofer, next to race, took over.

Feuz appeared set to give Switzerland only their second medal of the championships to add to Didier Cuche's downhill silver as he led until he straddled a gate near the end.

Svindal then held his nerve to win by 1.01 seconds.

The prolific Norwegian also won the downhill and giant slalom titles in Are in 2007 followed by the combined in Val D'Isere two years ago.

He is the Super G Olympic champion and has twice won the overall World Cup.