The Albany Gazette - Swiss Meillard snatches final giant slalom win before Olympics

Brazilian Lucas Pinheiro Braathen had to settle for second at 0.73 seconds in the night race with young French skier Alban Elezi Cannaferina placing third 0.90sec off the pace.

Meillard, 29, posted the second fastest time in both runs to seal his ninth World Cup victory.

"It was tough for everyone but on icy conditions, where I can ski best, I enjoyed it," said Meillard.

"I pushed hard, I had no regrets for my run. Okay I had a mistake but it's part of the game. I did the job."

Swiss skiing great Marco Odermatt, the overall World Cup and discipline leader, was fourth best at 1.26sec.

Pinheiro Braathen had led the way in the first run with Elezi Cannaferina blitzing the field in the second.

"I've got to admit I really, really thought that victory was mine today," said the Brazilian after his third second place this season.

"I really felt I had it in me. I'll take the experience and the feel of the snow we got today and put it into our action plan. We'll have to find that level of intensity that is needed."

Elezi Cannaferina's first World Cup podium boosts his chances of securing the final berth for the French team at the Olympics which get underway on February 6.

"Physically, I worked incredibly hard this summer, I've reached many milestones," the 22-year-old said.

"I hope I will be at the Olympics. We will see after tomorrow's (Wednesday) slalom."

French veteran Alexis Pinturault, a three-time Olympic medallist, finished 25th, nearly six-minutes off the pace to effectively end his hopes of qualifying for the Milan-Cortina Games.

(F.Allen--TAG)