SOELDEN, Austria (AP) — Ted Ligety maintained his dominance in giant slalom by taking a massive 0.90-second lead in the first run of the season-opening World Cup race Sunday, while Bode Miller placed 13th upon his return to the circuit following an 18-month injury layoff.
Ligety, who won six of eight races last season and defended his world title in GS, came down Rettenbach glacier in 1 minute, 0.44 seconds to lead Alexis Pinturault of France.
Overall champion Marcel Hirscher of Austria was the only other racer to finish within a second of Ligety, trailing the American by 0.98. Markus Sandell of Finland was 1.71 back in fourth.
Miller, who started 32nd, finished 2.81 seconds off the lead.
The start was lowered because of fierce winds, shortening the run by about 15 seconds.
