WENGEN, Switzerland (AFP) - France's Jean-Baptiste Grange claimed his second World Cup success in as many days in the men's slalom here on Saturday.

France's Jean-Baptiste Grange clears the gate on his way to setting the fastest time during the first round of an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Wengen, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

The 23-year-old led both runs, timing 1min 34.81sec, to finish 0.80sec ahead of Swede Jens Byggmark with American Ted Ligety finishing third at 0.89sec.

Grange, a slalom specialist who won bronze at the 2007 world championships in Sweden, follows his stunning victory in Friday's super-combined.

He claimed his third World Cup success having also won the slalom at Alta Badia in Italy on December 17.

The result saw Grange take the World Cup slalom lead as Austrian Benjamin Raich was eliminated in the second run. US star Bode Miller fought back to finish fifth after being 15th fastest in the first run.

Racing in identical snow conditions, but less visibility than on Friday, Grange acknowledged that Raich's failure to finish had given him a boost.

And the Frenchman now hopes he can build on his recent success to give back some hope to his under-achieving team.

"I'm starting to realise that with two consecutive victories I'm now among the best of the French team, even though I still won't allow myself to say it," said Grange.

"I will continue to do everything to keep up with the best."

Byggmark emerged last season as Sweden's latest slalom sensation, but has had a mediocre season so far.

Sweden's Jens Byggmark clears the gate on his way to setting the third fastest time during the first round of an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Wengen, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

After a costly mistake in the first run left him on the verge of finishing out of the top 30, he pushed himself hard to stay in contention.

"I'm happy to have finished the slalom and made it on to the podium because I haven't been doing too good lately," he said.

"For me to win today I would have had to be perfect, and Grange would have had to make some mistakes.

"In the first run I made a big mistake and I was so angry with myself that I risked everything just so that I could qualify for the second run."

Ted Ligety, of the United States, negotiates a gate on his way to the third place, during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Wengen, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Ligety was as equally determined to finish both legs having failed to finish several slaloms thus far.

"I really wanted to finish this slalom because this season I've only finished one so far, at Alta Badia (Italy) and I finished third. Grange won there also," said Ligety.

AFP
Sunday January 13, 02:47 AM

Finland's Kalle Palander clears a gate on his way to setting the fifth fastest time during the first round of an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Wengen, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

France's Jean-Baptiste Grange, center, winner of an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, stands on the podium with second placed Jens Byggmark, of Sweden, left, and third placed Ted Ligety, of the United States, in Wengen, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Bulgarians Kilian Albrecht and Stefan Georgiev did not classified for the 2-nd run of the slalom in Wengen

Kilian Albrecht and Stefan Georgiev did not manage to be classified for the second run of the World cup slalom in Wengen. Naturalized Austrian-Albrecht, that finishes out of 24-th place in same discipline in Adelboden as well brought first points for Bulgaria after more than 20 years, launched with number 38 and finished on 41-th place with time 49.73 seconds, 2.43 seconds after the leader after first stage Jean-Baptiste Grange.

Kilian Albrecht finished 41-th in Wengen

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