Massimiliano Blardone left two seasons of doubts behind him when he won the classic Alta Badia giant slalom for the third time on Sunday.
Home snow inspired the 32-year-old, whose last World Cup victory was on the same Gran Risa course two years ago.
Last season, Blardone made it on the podium only once, in Val d'Isere, as he struggled to adapt to new equipment.
"It's all the more important as it's entirely unexpected. I really had to fight hard for this", said Blardone, who also won in 2005 and is now only one short of Alberto Tomba's record of four wins in the Dolomites resort.
His sixth World Cup success was won at the expense of the Austrian team, who had to be content with the other podium places.
In-form Hannes Reichelt came second, 0.35 seconds behind Blardone, while Philipp Shoerghofer was third, 0.57 off the pace.
Austria have not won the classic Alta Badia giant slalom for 14 years and placed their main hopes on Marcel Hirscher, who finished fifth.
World champion Ted Ligety of the U.S. clocked the fastest time in the first leg but faltered in the afternoon to finish just 0.01 seconds short of the podium.
"It's frustrating. It's unforgivable to squander a 1.70 lead. It just shouldn't happen," said Ligety, conceding he had been too conservative on the second run.
The Alta Badia programme continues on Monday with a men's slalom.
Home snow inspired the 32-year-old, whose last World Cup victory was on the same Gran Risa course two years ago.
Last season, Blardone made it on the podium only once, in Val d'Isere, as he struggled to adapt to new equipment.
"It's all the more important as it's entirely unexpected. I really had to fight hard for this", said Blardone, who also won in 2005 and is now only one short of Alberto Tomba's record of four wins in the Dolomites resort.
His sixth World Cup success was won at the expense of the Austrian team, who had to be content with the other podium places.
In-form Hannes Reichelt came second, 0.35 seconds behind Blardone, while Philipp Shoerghofer was third, 0.57 off the pace.
Austria have not won the classic Alta Badia giant slalom for 14 years and placed their main hopes on Marcel Hirscher, who finished fifth.
World champion Ted Ligety of the U.S. clocked the fastest time in the first leg but faltered in the afternoon to finish just 0.01 seconds short of the podium.
"It's frustrating. It's unforgivable to squander a 1.70 lead. It just shouldn't happen," said Ligety, conceding he had been too conservative on the second run.
The Alta Badia programme continues on Monday with a men's slalom.
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