WORLD CUP, ALPINE SKI. A clear day with blue skies and -10°C welcomed the men’s slalom at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup at Levi on Sunday. After the first run, the lead belongs to France’s Jean-Baptiste Grange, Levi winner of 2008, who delivered an impressive run in his comeback slalom. Grange has been sidelined since December 2009 due to knee injury he sustained at Beaver Creek.

France's Jean-Baptiste Grange speeds down the course during the first run of an alpine ski, Men's World Cup Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

In 2nd place is Christian Deville of Italy who put down a great run with bib number #27 to trail Grange by 0.44 seconds. Austrian Manfred Pranger sits in 3rd place, 0.50 sec behind Grange and just 0.02 and 0.09 ahead of Swede Andre Myhrer (4th) and Swiss Silvan Zurbriggen (5th), respectively.

Italy's Cristian Deville speeds down the course during the first run of an alpine ski, Men's World Cup Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Austria's Manfred Pranger speeds down the course during the first run of an alpine ski, Men's World Cup Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Sweden's Andre Myhrer speeds down the course during the first run of an alpine ski, Men's World Cup Slalom, in Levi, Finland, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Ivica Kostelic (CRO) and Manfred Mölgg (ITA) are also less than 1 second behind, +0.77 and +0.87 respectively. Will Brandenburg (USA), skiing his 4th World Cup slalom and yet without a result (3x DNF1), broke into the top 10 with bib number #35, 1.04 sec behind Grange.

Austria's Christoph Dreier crashes during his first run in the men's slalom World Cup race at Levi ski resort near the town of Kittila November 14, 2010. REUTERS/Bob Strong (FINLAND)

A difficult course set at two rolls coming right after the long top flat helped cause a large number of DNFs, including Benjamin Raich, Marcel Hirscher, Reinfried Herbst (all AUT) and Michael Janyk (CAN) from the top 15 alone.

The 2nd run is scheduled for 13:00 CET.

FISalpine.com
Sunday 14 November 2010