Marcel Hirscher has grabbed the first run lead of the night slalom at Zagreb in a numerical oddity. Hirscher, the number one skier, placed first with the second, third and fourth skiers also finishing in the order of their start: Andre Myhrer, Ivica Kostelic and Felix Neureuther respectively. The top three are separated by just .12 of a second.

The link to start numbers proceeded after the fifth starter, Jean-Baptiste Grange failed to finish. Mario Matt started and finished seventh, Manfred Moelgg eighth and Axel Baeck in a tie for tenth. Cristan Deville moved from the sixth start to fifth and Ted Ligety was the biggest intruder sitting sixth from the 17th start.

Michael Janyk finished 16th and Brad Spence 25th for the Canadians while the US added three skiers to the second run, Nolan Kasper, Jimmy Cochran and Will Brandenburg finished run one 26-27-28 and will start six-five-four in the evening heat.

An estimated 16,000 spectators witnessed the first run with more arriving. Overnight temperatures were below zero allowing work crews to put the Crveni spust track in good condition, but how long it can hold up is a question as it was well above freezing for the first run.

Hirscher photo by Gepa