Turin, Feb. 14 (LaPresse) – Raphael Haaser won the gold medal in the men's giant slalom at the Alpine Skiing World Championships taking place in Saalbach, Austria. The home skier, fifth after the first run, recovered four positions in the second run by setting the best time of 2'39"71. Behind him was the Swiss team, with Thomas Tumler silver at 23 hundredths and Loic Meillard bronze at 51 hundredths. Surprisingly off the podium was Marco Odermatt, fourth at 58 hundredths from the winner. Only seventh the Norwegian Timon Haugan, the best in the first downhill. As for Italy, ninth place for Luca De Aliprandini, 1"03 from the winner. Outside the top ten the others, with Giovanni Franzoni twentieth, Alex Vinatzer twenty-first and Filippo Della Vite twenty-fourth.