L'indépendance Luxembourgeoise - Norwegian Haugan dazzles in men's World Cup slalom win

The 27-year-old had posted the fastest time in the first leg and did not disappoint in the second run, beating Loic Meillard of Switzerland by 1.13 seconds.

Haugan's compatriot Atle Lie McGrath finished third, 1.26sec adrift of the winner.

France's Clement Noel, winner of the first two slaloms of the campaign, skied as if he is still feeling the right ankle injury that ruled him out of the previous race in Val d'Isere.

The Olympic champion was third after the first leg but dropped to sixth after the two runs.

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt does not compete in the slalom but still tops the overall World Cup standings after an impressive weekend's work, emerging triumphant in both the downhill at Val Gardena and then the giant slalom in Alta Badia on Sunday.

He holds a 71-point lead over Haugan and McGrath's teammate Henrik Kristoffersen, who was fourth in the slalom.

The men stay in Italy for the next round of World Cup races, a downhill and then a super-G in Bormio next Saturday and Sunday.

O.P.Becker--LiLuX