Young Norwegian skier Lucas Braathen opened his men's ski World Cup account in the season-opening giant slalom staged due to Covid-19 safety protocol without spectators in Soelden on Sunday. The 20-year-old secured his first win on the World Cup circuit by finishing five hundredths of a second clear of Marco Odermatt with another Swiss Gino Caviezel in third. Favourites to take the curtain-raiser on the glacier were Alexis Pinturault and Henrik Kristoffersen who came in fourth and fifth. The defending overall champion, Braathen's compatriot Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, failed to complete the first run with Caviezel putting together the fastest run. rg/nr/pb