Tissot tears up first run

The 27-year-old Tissot, who finished just off of the podium at the World Cup opener at Levi, looked set to claim his first-ever World Cup victory after blazing to the fastest time of 50.43 seconds.

Palander, who won Alta Badia's giant slalom on Sunday, was just 0.12 seconds off pace in second.

The overall World Cup king and slalom Olympic champion Raich trailed Tissot by 0.18 seconds going into the final run.

Combined Olympic champion Ted Ligety proved the best of the Americans in fourth at 0.25 seconds off pace.

Former World Cup champion Bode Miller lost control to crash out of the first run as swirling snow thwarted many of the later skiers on the difficult Gran Risa course.

Italy's slalom Crystal Globe winner, Giorgio Rocca, disappointed home supporters with a 12th place run to finish a full 1.30 seconds behind the Frenchman.

Tissot claimed the silver medal position at last season's World Cup finals in Are, Sweden, the same site of next year's world championships.