Kranjec becomes 1st Slovenian to win men's World Cup giant slalom

Zan Kranjec has become the first Slovenian skier to win a men's World Cup giant slalom.

Win comes hours after compatriot Ilka Stuhec captures women's super-G

Zan Kranjec celebrates after winning the first World Cup for Slovenia in the men's giant slalom. (Lisi Niesner/REUTERS)

Zan Kranjec became the first Slovenian skier to win a men's World Cup giant slalom on Wednesday in Saalbach, Austria, hours after compatriot Ilka Stuhec won a women's super-G in Italy.

Kranjec was more than a half-second off the lead in fourth after the opening run, but leaders Matts Olsson of Sweden and Manuel Feller of Austria both failed to finish their final runs.

Loic Meillard of Switzerland was 0.19 seconds behind in second, and Mathieu Faivre of France was 0.50 behind in third.

Seven-time overall champion Marcel Hirscher finished sixth, ending the Austrian's streak 18 consecutive GS races where he finished on the podium.

The race replaced the season-opening giant slalom, which was cancelled because of bad weather in Soelden in October.