Sölden (Austria) (AFP)
Second in the general classification last season, Marco Odermatt edged Leitinger by 07/100 and Kranjec by 10/100.
The title holder of the big globe, the French Alexis Pinturault, ranked 5th at 62 / 100th.
The 24-year-old Swiss, who promises to be his great rival, has signed his fifth success, the third in giant.
Eleven skiers are held in less than a second, the last of them being the world champion of the specialty, the French Mathieu Faivre, at the gates of the top 10 at 98 / 100th after having achieved the second best time of the first handle.
Odermatt, disadvantaged by the cancellations of the super-G and the descent of Lenzerheide in his duel at the end of the season with Pinturault, scores a big blow at the opening of the season in Sölden.
On the Frenchman's favorite terrain, winner twice in the Austrian Tyrol resort (2016 and 2019) and winner of the little giant's globe at the end of the last exercise.
At home, the Austrian Marco Schwarz, third in the general classification of the 2020-2021 World Cup, finished 13th at 1 sec 14. A classification within the standards of this slalom specialist.
© 2021 AFP