Val d'Isere, France - Carlo Janka of Switzerland claimed his first career victory in alpine skiing on Saturday when he dominated a giant slalom in which local hope Gauthier de Tessieres shot from 30th to third place.

Janka, 22, registered a combined total of 2 minutes 22.73 seconds for his two runs on the hill where the world championship medals will decided in February.

Massimiliano Blardone of Italy was second in 2:22.93 minute while the 27-year-old Frenchman de Tessieres made the most of starting the second run in perfect piste conditions for his first podium in 2:23.17.

Janka is enjoying his best season and managed his first podium two weeks ago when he came second in a downhill in Lake Louise, Canada.

De Tessieres' previous best was a 15th-place finish four years ago in a giant slalom in Soelden, Austria.

Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal missed the podium by two hundredths of a second, but the 2007 World Cup champion increased his lead in the overall rankings with now 395 points from nine races as second-ranked Austrian Benjamin Raich crashed out in the first run and remained on 293 points.

Didier Cuche of Switzerland was fifth and leads the giant slalom standings with 165 points from three races.

The men's World Cup in Val d'Isere concludes with a slalom on Sunday. (dpa)