HINTERSTODER, Austria: Frenchman Alexis Pinturault produced a barnstorming World Cup giant slalom victory on Friday, ripping down the Hinterstoder slopes as last man out of the gate on the second run to win by a wide margin.

The 24-year-old hit a gate half way down the final run and almost lost his balance, but recovered his speed for an eye-catching daredevil descent as he outclassed the field.

Local hero and World Cup discipline leader Marcel Hirscher was fourth after the first round but stormed back himself to clinch second at 0.79sec, while another Frenchman Thomas Fanara was third at 0.92sec.

“I am overwhelmingly happy to have come second, I really had to give my all to achieve that” Hirscher said.

Hirscher also holds a handsome lead atop the overall World Cup leader board, which he extended here slightly as his closest rival Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen was fourth.

For Pinturault it was a fourth win of the season adding to his most recent success at the Chamonix super-combined last weekend and another at Kitzbühel.

The Frenchman admitted having a hard time getting over a nasty fall at Beaver Creek in December but this was a real return to form.

“This is where I won my first ever World Cup points. I hope to win some more in the super-G Saturday. But I hit a gate on the second run and hurt my back, so I hope that doesn’t affect me too much.