Austrians 1-2-3 after opening slalom run

Austrian skiers held the top three spots after the opening run of a World Cup slalom on the Gran Risa course Monday.

Slalom world champion Manfred Pranger led in 53.35 seconds, and Reinfried Herbst was second, 0.22 seconds behind. Olympic champion Benjamin Raich was third, 0.27 back.

Herbst won the opening slalom of the season in Levi, Finland, last month.

Raich can add some significant points to his overall World Cup lead because Swiss rival Carlo Janka straddled the second gate on course.

With his son Ivica out following knee surgery, Croatian coach Ante Kostelic set a tricky course with a quick series of gates on a roll midway down, …