Hirscher wins Kranjska Gora GS; Ligety 3rd

KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia (AP) -- Marcel Hirscher of Austria won a men's World Cup giant slalom Saturday for his second win of the season.

Hirscher was 0.47 seconds back in fifth after the opening leg but had a flawless final run on the Podkoren 3 course to finish in a combined time of 2 minutes, 31.30 seconds.

"It's unbelievable, just awesome," said the 20-year-old Hirscher, who won his first career title in a GS in Val d'Isere, France, in December. "I think this was maybe the best giant slalom run I've ever had. The other guys were fast as well, so I didn't believe I could still win it."

Hirscher charged from the start, hoping to put extra pressure on the four skiers behind him.

"I went full risk. Skiing without risks isn't fun for me," Hirscher said. "I am small so I have to risk everything to be as fast as the taller guys."

Kjetil Jansrud of Norway, who led going into the final run, was 0.45 back in second for his best career World Cup result.

"I was quite nervous to start my second run as the leader," Jansrud said. "I had a solid run but Marcel was just too fast."

Ted Ligety of the United States took third, 0.58 behind. The American won a GS here on Friday ahead of Hirscher and Jansrud.

"It's still nice to make it to the podium again," said Ligety, who won the past three GS's on the Podkoren course. "I felt pretty bad the whole way down in the first run. It was hard to find the rhythm. The snow is pretty bumpy."

The American was more satisfied with his final run.

"I was pretty happy with the way I skied," he said, "but Hirscher just killed the bottom part of the course. He won 0.6 or 0.7 of a second on all the top guys there."

Ligety said the Austrian could become a serious competitor for the overall title in the near future.

"It's crazy to see how he's evolved from just being a slalom skier a couple of years ago to an even better GS skier now," Ligety said. "He is a phenomenal skier and he will be an overall contender pretty soon."

Hirscher, however, said he first has to improve his performance in other disciplines to stand a chance.

"I will try to win the overall maybe in five years," Hirscher said. "I am a very technical skier, which allows me to become good at super-G and combined as well. That will take maybe another two, three years. Then we'll see."

With one World Cup GS remaining, Ligety leads the discipline standings with 352 points ahead of Massimiliano Blardone of Italy, who has 309 points, and Hirscher, who is another three points back in third.

Benjamin Raich of Austria finished sixth and extended his lead in the overall standings over ninth-place Carlo Janka of Switzerland, 967-897.

"My run definitely wasn't the best," Raich said. "At the moment I haven't got the feeling for really fast turns. I am not too fresh after racing for so many weeks."

Janka was third after the opening leg but seemed to hold back and avoid risks in his second run, posting only the 23rd run time.

The event in Kranjska Gora will be concluded with a men's slalom on Sunday, the final race ahead of the Vancouver Olympics.

Ligety said he didn't think the two straight podium finishes in GS will be much of a help to him for the slalom, a discipline where the American has been struggling this season.

"To have two GS races before a slalom is not ideal," Ligety said. "GS is definitely the most physical demanding discipline. Most of the slalom guys are all super fresh. I'd rather have a day off and then ski the slalom."