World Cup champion Marcel Hirscher edged arch-rival Henrik Kristoffersen to win the men's alpine skiing World Cup slalom at Santa Catarina on Wednesday.

The Norwegian had won the two opening slaloms of the season at Val D'Isere and Madonna di Campiglio, and he set the second-fastest time on the first run just ahead of Hirscher.

But it was the Austrian who went fastest second time out to clinch the win by 0.21secs and regain top spot in the overall standings ahead of Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal.

Kristoffersen settled for second with Russia's Alexander Khoroshilov, who topped the first run, in third place.

It was the 17th World Cup slalom win of his career, placing Hirscher third on the all-time list behind Ingemar Stenmark and Alberto Tomba.
The Austrian has already won three giant slaloms and one super-G this season, making him a hot favourite to make it five straight overall World Cup crystal globes.

The Santa Catarina slalom was a late replacement for that of Zagreb, called off due to a lack of snow
Source: AFP