SÖLDEN, Austria (AP) — Austrian skier Julia Scheib took a big first-run lead and Mikaela Shiffrin was looming 1.69 seconds behind in sixth in the season-opening women’s World Cup giant slalom Saturday.

Scheib surprised the pre-race favorites with a near-perfect race line in the steep middle section of the course before finishing 1.28 seconds ahead of the field, led by U.S. ski team’s Paula Moltzan in second.

Youngsters Zrinka Ljutic and Lara Colturi were within four-hundredths behind Moltzan in third and fourth, respectively.

“I was a bit surprised (about the lead) as it felt almost too easy,” Scheib told Austrian TV after her run.

Scheib is yet to win a World Cup race but finished third in the season opener last year . The Austrian women’s team has not won a GS since Eva-Maria Brem

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