Alexander Steen Olsen held on to his first-run advantage to lead a Norwegian sweep of the podium at the season-opening men's World Cup giant slalom on Sunday in Soelden, Austria, while Lucas Pinheiro Braathen and Marcel Hirscher made successful comebacks to the circuit.
Defending overall champion Marco Odermatt skied out in the opening run. Holding a slim lead after the first run, Steen Olsen finished 0.64 seconds ahead of Henrik Kristoffersen and was 0.65 faster than Atle Lie McGrath. "That is what we have been dreaming of, everybody on the podium," Steen Olsen said.
Former slalom World Cup winner Pinheiro Braathen, who returned after one year off and a switch from the Norwegian to the Brazilian federation, started 41st and finished 0.90 behind in fourth after posting the fastest second-run time.
Austrian great Hirscher, who came out of retirement after five years to start for the Netherlands, trailed Steen Olsen by 2.16 seconds in 23rd position, after the record eight-time overall champion just qualified for the final run but then posted the third-fastest time.