VAL D'ISERE, France (AP) — Swiss skiers Loic Meillard, Luca Aerni and Marco Odermatt swept the podium places in a World Cup giant slalom on Saturday.
Meillard moved up from fifth after the opening run to win by 0.18 seconds ahead of Aerni and 0.33 ahead of Odermatt, the overall World Cup leader.
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Switzerland's Loic Meillard, right, winner of an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom event, celebrates with fellow-countrymen second placed Luca Aerni and third placed Marco Odermatt, center, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Switzerland's Loic Meillard speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men¥s World Cup giant slalom event, in Val d¥Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Switzerland's Loic Meillard speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom event, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)
Switzerland's Loic Meillard reacts after completing an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom event, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Switzerland's Loic Meillard, right, winner of an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom event, poses with fellow-countrymen second placed Luca Aerni, second from right, and third placed Marco Odermatt, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Switzerland's Marco Odermatt speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom event, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)
Switzerland's Marco Odermatt speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom event, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Norway's Timon Haugan speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom event, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)
Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom event, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)
Austria's Stefan Brennsteiner speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom event, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)
Timon Haugan finished fourth and first-run leader Stefan Brennsteiner ended up fifth as the racers struggled to find the racing line when the steep Bellevarde course was mostly covered by shade.
It was Meillard’s eighth World Cup victory and first since winning the giant slalom at last season’s finals in Sun Valley, Idaho.
The Swiss team, which also dominated at last season’s world championships, is shaping up as the squad to beat in men’s skiing at the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics.
American racer River Radamus had the fastest second run and finished sixth after placing 21st in the morning run. In a solid day for the U.S. Ski Team, Ryder Sarchett placed a career-best 10th.
A slalom race is scheduled for the Bellevarde on Sunday.
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
Switzerland's Loic Meillard, right, winner of an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom event, celebrates with fellow-countrymen second placed Luca Aerni and third placed Marco Odermatt, center, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Switzerland's Loic Meillard speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men¥s World Cup giant slalom event, in Val d¥Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Switzerland's Loic Meillard speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom event, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)
Switzerland's Loic Meillard reacts after completing an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom event, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Switzerland's Loic Meillard, right, winner of an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom event, poses with fellow-countrymen second placed Luca Aerni, second from right, and third placed Marco Odermatt, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Switzerland's Marco Odermatt speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom event, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)
Switzerland's Marco Odermatt speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom event, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Norway's Timon Haugan speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom event, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)
Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom event, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)
Austria's Stefan Brennsteiner speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom event, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)
