Marcel Hirscher took a 0.56-second lead in the slalom at the world championships in a brilliant response to missing out on gold in the giant slalom two days ago.
Only Alexis Pinturault of France was within a second of Hirscher, who was on course to win a record-tying seventh career gold medal at the worlds.
Marco Schwarz of Austria was in third place after the first run, 1.22 seconds off the lead. Henrik Kristoffersen, who beat Hirscher to GS gold on Friday, was 1.70 seconds back in sixth.
Hirscher showed no effects from the cold that has been affecting the Austrian this week.