Swiss Janka Wins Giant Slalom Gold

Carlo gave the resurgent Alpine nation their second gold medal in this French Alps resort after Didier Cuche`s super-G triumph last week.

Switzerland's Carlo Janka added to his downhill bronze by producing a stylish win in the men's giant slalom at the alpine skiing world championships on Friday.

The 22-year-old gave the resurgent Alpine nation their second gold medal in this French Alps resort after Didier Cuche's super-G triumph last week.

Janka, who claimed his first World Cup win in a giant slalom at the same venue last December, clocked a combined winning time of two minutes 18.82 seconds down a sun-lit Bellevarde course.

Olympic champion Benjamin Raich took the silver, 0.71 seconds back, to hand Austria their first medal after four men's events, while American Ted Ligety won the bronze, O.99 seconds behind the winner, courtesy of a sensational second run.

Janka clocked the fastest time by far in the first run but survived a scare when he nearly lost his balance halfway through the second.

He recovered, however, to crown a fine day for Switzerland after the news that Daniel Albrecht would make a full recovery after three weeks in an induced coma following his downhill training crash in Kitzbuehel last month.

"I made a big mistake but I stayed calm because I knew I had a comfortable margin and things could go my way in the tricky lower section," Janka said.

"This is fantastic, especially after the great news for Dani. What a day."

NOT COMPLAINING

The 30-year-old Raich, usually not happy with anything but gold, was not complaining this time.

"Of course I wanted to win but Janka was simply out of reach today so I'm satisfied with the silver," Raich said. "I had a lot of pressure. This was one of the toughest giant slaloms I have raced in."

Marcel Hirscher confirmed Austria's recovery from a frustrating start to the championships with fourth place ahead of Italy's Massimiliano Blardone and Cuche, who finished fifth and sixth respectively.

While Janka stole the show in the first run, the most impressive skier in the second was Ligety, who was flawless down the steep, icy course and clocked the fastest time to climb six places to third.

"My first run was a disaster so I had nothing to lose," Ligety said after making up for another disappointing peformance from daredevil compatriot Bode Miller, who skied out in the second run.

"I knew that on this piste, you can come from behind and I just went for it," added the 24-year-old Olympic combined champion.