Austrlia's Marcel Hirscher celebrates his seventh successive overall FIS World Cup title at Karnjska Gora ©FIS

Marcel Hirscher of Austria earned his seventh successive overall International Ski Federation (FIS) Alpine Ski World Cup title at Kranjska Gora as his victory in the slalom - which also earned him overall honours in that discipline - put him beyond reach of any rival.

Hirscher, whose overall slalom win brought his crystal globe collection in all disciplines to 17, just two short of the record 19 claimed by Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark,

The 29-year-old from Salzburg produced a solid rather than spectacular performance in what was his first slalom race since failing to finish in the Pyeongchang 2018, where he won the gold medal in the giant slalom and Alpine combined.

His win extended his lead in overall standings to 289 points, a gap that his closest contender, Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen - who earned his 10th second place of the season today - cannot close with only two technical races to go before the end of the season.

Yesterday's Hirscher's victory in giant slalom at Kranjska Gora secured him a fifth overall World Cup globe in that discipline.

Switzerland’s Ramon Zenhäusern took the third spot on the podium, building impressively on his World Cup win in the Oslo city event and first Olympic medals – silver in the slalom and gold in the team event.

The World Cup is due to move to Kvitfjell in Norway next weekend ahead of the World Cup finals that are scheduled to take place in Åre in Sweden from March 14 to 18. 

Italy's Federica Brignone celebrates her second consecutive victory in the Alpine combined at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup event in Crans-Montana ©FIS
Italy's Federica Brignone celebrates her second consecutive victory in the Alpine combined at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup event in Crans-Montana ©FIS

Meanwhile, home fans at Switzerland’s Crans-Montana course had plenty to cheer as Wendy Holdener, Alpine combined bronze medallist at Pyeongchang 2018, earned her second overall World Cup title in that discipline by finishing fourth behind Italian winner Federica  Brignone.

There was further home glee as Michelle Gisin, the Pyeongchang 2018 gold medallist, earned her second World Cup podium finish in second place.

The Italian produced an impressive concluding slalom run to claim her second career Alpine combined victory on this course.

Skiing from fifth place after the super-G run and 0.91 seconds off the lead, Brignone attacked Mont Lachaux with the third fastest slalom run to earn victory over Gisin by just 0.03 seconds.

Gisin was closely followed by Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova, who was only 0.09 seconds from the win.

Vlhova thus claimed her first Alpine combined podium place on the World Cup circuit in what was her first race at the discipline in this competition following her fifth place at Pyeongchang 2018. 

Holdener, who finished 0.26 seconds off the lead, will receive her crystal globe at the World Cup Finals.

Gisin finished second in the 2017-2018 Alpine combined standings and Brignone was third.