Larsson leads from Raich

Larsson, who holds the lead in the slalom standings, was able to profit from starting first, negotiating the rain-sodden Adelboden course in a time of 52.38 seconds.

The defending overall world cup champion Raich, looking to build on Saturday's giant slalom triumph, posted the second fastest time of the first leg, 0.05 seconds behind Larsson, after starting second.

Finland's Kalle Palander was third fastest, 0.26 seconds off the pace.

The increasingly slushy conditions caught out several of the later starters with 12 of the first 30 skiers, including overall leader Aksel Lund Svindal, failing to finish.

"It was definitely difficult to race because if you make a mistake or don't stay exactly on the race line then you end up in the soft snow," said Raich.

"The problem will be in the second run because of having to start in reverse order. By the time Markus and I start it's going to be really tough."

American Bode Miller, starting outside the top 30 because of his poor recent form in slalom, set the 11th fastest time to qualify from the first leg for the first time this season.

The former World Cup overall champion, who once counted slalom as his strongest event, had to wait around an hour for his qualification to be confirmed however after television replays suggested he had come close to straddling a gate.