Austrian skier Benjamin Raich thrilled fans in his native country on Sunday, winning the World Cup men's slalom in Bad Kleinkirchheim.

Raich, the Olympic champion and 2006 overall winner, posted a two-run time of one minute, 34.46 seconds to claim his first World Cup victory of the season and the 30th win of his career.

Austria's Benjamin Raich races his way to victory Sunday in Bad Kleinkirchheim.
(Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images)

"I let the skis go and it was a big day for me," said Raich.

Swede Jens Byggmark finished second in 1:35.12 and Manfred Moelgg of Italy was third in 1:35.18. Moelgg finished second in Saturday's giant slalom in Bad Kleinkirchheim.

Fellow Italian Patrick Thaler, who was 28th after the first leg, ended up finishing fourth, while countryman Cristian Deville was fifth.

Paul Stutz of Banff, Alta., the only Canadian on the day to make it beyond the opening leg, did not complete his second run.

With Sunday's win, Raich leads the overall World Cup standings with 405 points, ahead of Daniel Albrecht (332 points) and Didier Cuche (273 points) of Switzerland.

"The lead is good but not very important at the moment," Raich said. "There are so many races ahead before the end of the season."

It was a tough day for the American entrants. Bode Miller failed to qualify for the second run after finishing 45th in the first, while both Ted Ligety and Jimmy Cochran failed to complete two runs.

With files from the Associated Press