Tomba finishes 2nd in return

Tuesday, Dec. 17, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

World and Olympic champion Alberto Tomba, back in action nearly two months after a bad training spill, finished second.

The Italian skier, eighth after the first run, was the fastest in the second heat to finish 0.58 seconds behind Sykora.

Defending World Cup slalom champion Sebastien Amiez of France finished third.

Sykora, winner of the slalom at Park City, Utah, earlier this season, had a combined time today of one minute, 37.90 seconds.

Tomba, who skied with one hand bandaged, said he still had pains in his right wrist, ended in 1:38.48 minutes.

"I'm overjoyed, I did not expect to be so good on my first race," Tomba said.

Tomba, 29, made his season debut at one of his favorite tracks after recovering from wrist and knee bruises suffered in a spill at the Tonale glacier Oct. 22.

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