René de Silvestro of Italy secured a giant slalom win at the World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup ©Facebook

René de Silvestro of Italy secured a giant slalom win at the World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup event in Veysonnaz.

De Silvestro completed two runs at the Swiss ski resort, finishing the first in 55.86sec and the second in 59.58 to record a total time of 1:55.44.

It was his first World Cup race victory.

"I'm really happy I finally managed to get my first win, I hope it's the first of many," De Silvestro said, as reported by L'Amico del Popolo. 

"I prepared well and was in condition, both physically and mentally."

René de Silvestro beat Norwegian Paralympic champion Jesper Pedersen, who had to make do with silver ©Getty Images
René de Silvestro beat Norwegian Paralympic champion Jesper Pedersen, who had to make do with silver ©Getty Images

He finished in front of Jesper Pedersen, the overall crystal globe winner and Paralympic champion in giant slalom.

The Norwegian was second in 1:56.58, followed by Taiki Morii of Japan in 1:58.41. 

The World Cup opener concludes tomorrow with a second day of giant slalom competition.