ALTA BADIA, Italy (AP) — Two-time defending overall World Cup champion Marcel Hirscher led the opening run of a giant slalom on the Gran Risa course Sunday.
Aiming for his second consecutive GS win after a victory in Val d’Isere, France, last weekend, Hirscher clocked 1 minute, 18.14 seconds for a 0.22 advantage over French rival Alexis Pinturault.
Ted Ligety, who won by a massive margin last year, was third, 0.41 back, after a few minor mistakes during his run.
Overall World Cup leader Aksel Lund Svindal stood ninth.
U.S. skier Tim Jitloff was 11th and Bode Miller failed to qualify for the second run in 40th after falling on his hip midway down. Miller recovered but stood up before he crossed the finish line to conclude a wild run.
