Haaser wins world giant slalom, Odermatt fourth

Saalbach: Austria s Raphael Haaser won gold in the men s giant slalom at the World Ski Championships in Saalbach on Friday, defending champion Marco O...

Saalbach: Austria's Raphael Haaser won gold in the men's giant slalom at the World Ski Championships in Saalbach on Friday, defending champion Marco Odermatt finishing fourth.

Haaser, who won silver in last week's super-G behind Odermatt, timed 2min 39.71sec down the Schneekristall piste in overcast conditions.

The Swiss pair of Thomas Tumler and Loic Meillard rounded out the podium, at 0.23 and 0.58sec respectively.

Norway's Timon Haugan, quickest down the first run, had headed into the second and decisive leg of the GS with a vital 0.24sec advantage over defending champ Odermatt.

But it was not to be for either of them.