BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — Marcel Hirscher of Austria holds a slim lead after the first run of the giant slalom at the world championships Friday, with defending champion Ted Ligety of the United States in the thick of things despite tiny mistakes.
Hirscher steadily glided through the course in 1 minute, 15.18 seconds. There’s not much separation as five racers are all within 0.48 seconds of Hirscher heading into the afternoon run. That tightly bunched group includes Ligety, who trails by 0.24 seconds. Ligety is trying to win his third straight world title in the discipline.
Roberto Nani of Italy is second, 0.18 seconds off the lead, while Felix Neureuther of Germany and Alexis Pinturault of France are tied for third, 0.23 back.
Hirscher already has a gold medal at Beaver Creek worlds, winning the Alpine combined on Sunday.
There are still lower-tier skiers racing, with 100 competitors in the field.
