VAL D'ISERE, France - Carlo Janka of Switzerland beat Massimiliano Blardone of Italy by 0.20 seconds to win a men's World Cup giant slalom race Saturday.

Carlo Janka, of Switzerland, speeds down the course on his way to winning a Men's World Cup giant slalom race, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Enrico Schiavi)

Janka finished in a two-leg time of two minutes 22.73 seconds after he and Blardone had shown poise on their second runs. Gauthier de Tessieres of France took third in 2:23.17 after finishing 30th in the first run.

"All the pieces went perfectly together," Janka said. "The course suits my style. It was just a case of going for it and showing my true potential. I feel really strong in giant slalom, even though I think I can improve in speed events."

Jean-Philippe Roy of Ste-Flavie, Que., was the only Canadian to ski both runs and finished 25th at 2:25.72.

John Kucera of Calgary missed out on the top 30 by 0.1 seconds and failed to qualify. Thomas Grandi of Canmore, Alta., plus Robbie Dixon and Michael Janyk, both of Whistler, B.C., also didn't advance while Julien Cousineau of Lachute, Que., didn't finish the opening run.

Blardone finished the first leg in third place, 0.22 ahead of Janka.

"It's a very, very positive result for me to come back from a difficult start to the season," Blardone said. "It's very good for my morale."

World Cup leader Aksel Lund Svindal missed out on a podium place after almost falling on the highly technical Bellevarde course. He finished fourth, having been in second place after the opening run.

"You need guts. You can't make it down without fighting. It's a very technically demanding course," Blardone said. "The course is so tough and so steep. It's also very narrow. I really hope during the (2009) world championships (in Val d'Isere) the course will be a little bit wider."

A first World Cup podium was particularly rewarding for de Tissieres, who had considered retiring after rupturing his knee ligaments in March 2007. Following an operation, he even struggled on the European Cup circuit.

"I've had more tough moments than good ones, up until now," he said. "A few people helped to motivate me and get me back on track."

Manfred Moelgg of Italy dropped to sixth place after leading from the first run.

Reigning World Cup giant slalom champion Ted Ligety of the United States lost time on the bottom section and missed out on a fifth straight World Cup podium finish in giant slalom, placing 12th overall.

Bode Miller, the defending World Cup overall champion, finished 24th. The American went wide on two gates and almost fell on the top section.

Bode Miller, of the United States, powers past a gate during the first run of an alpine ski, Men's World Cup giant slalom race, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

De Tessieres almost missed the cut, but that gave him an unexpected advantage as he profited from better weather and a smoother slope when he was the first to go down the slope on the second run.

"I was tired, but I heard the fans at the bottom," de Tessieres said. "You're at home. It transcends you."

The 27-year-old de Tessieres held the lead until Janka was faster at every time check with a near faultless technique. Blardone made up good time at the bottom, while Svindal went back on his skis and did well not to fall over.

France's Gauthier De Tessieres speeds down the course during an alpine ski, Men's World Cup giant slalom race, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

The Frenchman accepted he had better light at the start.

"I had more light than the others, but it's not luck. You have to able to take your chances," de Tessieres said.

There were spectacular falls for Alberto Schieppati of Italy and Frederic Covili of France, although both got back up and didn't appear hurt.

Benjamin Raich's bid for a third straight World Cup race win ended when he failed to complete his run. The two-time Olympic champion from Austria had won the super-combi on Friday after a brilliant slalom run. Janka had won the super-G.

After his first run, Moelgg had a time of 1:11.35 seconds. Svindal finished in 1:11.50 and Blardone 1:11.58.

"The course is very difficult, the course is very off line," Janka said after his first run. "The track is not so good, but I'm happy with the first run. It's technical, not really fast, very technical and very hard."

By Jerome Pugmire
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
December 13, 2008

Carlo Janka, of Switzerland, center, winner of a Men's World Cup giant slalom race, celebrates with second placed Massimiliano Blardone, of Italy, right, and third placed France's Gauthier De Tessieres, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Enrico Schiavi)