SOELDEN (Austria), Oct 28: France’s Frederic Covili beat the favourites for his maiden World Cup win on Sunday in the season-opening giant slalom.

Covili was a surprise bronze medallist in the giant slalom at the St Anton world championships in February but had never done better than fourth place, in Val d’Isere last winter, in the World Cup.

He clocked a two-run combined time of two minutes 14.50 seconds to push Austrian veteran Stephan Eberharter into second place.

Leading results on Sunday:

1. Frederic Covili (France) (first leg 1:07.80/second leg 1:06.70) 2:14.50 2. Stephan Eberharter (Austria) (1:08.34/1:06.25) 2:14.59 3= Michael von Gruenigen (Switzerland) (1:08.09/1:06.73) 2:14.82 3= Fredrik Nyberg (Sweden) (1:08.23/1:06.59) 2:14.82 5. Bode Miller (U.S.) (1:08.50/1:06.40) 2:14.90 6. Lasse Kjus (Norway) (1:07.50/1:07.70) 2:15.20 7. Benjamin Raich (Austria) (1:08.19/1:07.03) 2:15.21 8. Andreas Schifferer (Austria) (1:08.23/1:07.01) 2:15.24 9. Andre-Kjetil Aamodt (Norway) (1:08.46/1:06.80) 2:15.26 10. Christian Mayer (Austria) (1:08.91/1:06.37) 2:15.28 11. Vincent Millet (France) (1:08.93/1:06.37) 2:15.30 12. Joel Chenal (France) (1:08.68/1:06.68) 2:15.36 13. Christoph Gruber (Austria) (1:09.23/1:06.39) 2:15.62 14. Didier Defago (Switzerland) (1:08.74/1:06.90) 2:15.64 15. Sami Uotila (Finland) (1:08.54/1:07.11) 2:15.65 16. Rainer Salzgeber (Austria) (1:09.11/1:06.61) 2:15.72 17. Didier Cuche (Switzerland) (1:08.55/1:07.24) 2:15.79 18. Massimiliano Blardone (Italy) (1:08.93/1:07.00) 2:15.93 19. Daron Rahlves (U.S.) (1:08.63/1:07.42) 2:16.05 20. Tobias Gruenenfelder (Switzerland) (1:09.45/1:06.62) 2:16.07—Reuters