SOLDEN, Austria (AFP) - Bode Miller of the United States was fastest in both runs to score a dominating win in the season-opening men's World Cup giant slalom.
Miller finished 1.17 seconds ahead of Massimiliano Blardone of Italy and 1.48sec ahead of Finland's Kalle Palender.
He was already ahead after the first run which saw Palender in second and Blardone in third, and a scintillating second leg saw him cruise home despite a near fall two gates from home.
It was his 13th World Cup victory overall and seventh in the giant slalom, an event in which he is the reigning World Cup holder.
"This has been a great day for me and, but don't think it was easy," said the 27-year-old giant slalom world champion. "I nearly fell on two or three occasions.
"It's the perfect start to the season for me but don't forget last year when I also won here and everyone was saying I would win everything. You know how that finished," he added.
Miller was alluding to his fourth place in the overall standings last year when many experts had him down as the favourite to win.
Blardone said that his second place was a reward for all the hard work he had put in in training during the summer.
"I know I am small but I am also stubborn and I think that myself, Bode and some others are going to have a great battle up to next March," he said.
Palendar said he was happy just to be on the podium as he had made several bad mistakes.
"It's been a great weekend for Finland with Tanja (Poutiainen) second in the women's giant slalom," he added.
10/24/2004 - 13:42 GMT - AFP