World Cup overall points leader Marcel Hirscher of Austria was the fastest in the first leg of the World Championships giant slalom Friday, with Roberto Nani in second.
Hirscher's time of 1min 15.18sec was 0.18sec faster than Italy's Nani who led a large pack of contenders who will be challenging the Austrian in Friday afternoon's second leg.
Germany's Felix Neureuther and Alexis Pinturault of France were tied, just 0.23sec adrift of Hirscher. Defending Olympic and world champion Ted Ligety of the USA was another 0.01sec back in fifth place in 1:15.42.
Sweden's Matts Olsson clocked 1:15.66 to make it six ski racers all within a half-second striking distance of Hirscher, who is aiming for his second individual gold in Beaver Creek after winning the super-combined on Sunday.
Hirscher has dominated giant slalom this season having won four of the five World Cup races, including the last three.
The lone time he has failed to win this season was in Beaver Creek when he finished third behind Ligety and Pinturault, who is seeking to become just the fourth Frenchman to win the world title in this event.
Source: AFP