LEVI, Finland — Austrian star Marcel Hirscher scraped into first place after a dramatic second run in Levi, finishing in 1:51.04 during the opener of this year's Alpine ski world cup.

Hirscher, gunning for a record eighth consecutive crystal globe, ended 0.09 seconds ahead of Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen, who claimed silver in the giant slalom at this year's Winter Olympics.

After a strong start Hirscher lost some time in the final sector of the descent but held on to clinch the win from Kristoffersen.

But the defining moment in the race was a cruel last-minute twist in the fortunes of the French team. Both Clement Noel and Victor Muffat-Jeandet looked set for a podium finish before missing the same gate, meters from the finish line, within minutes of each other.

Both climbed back up and finished the course, ending in 26th and 25th place respectively. Noel, the 21-year-old rising star who placed fourth in slalom in Pyeongchang, ended his first run in third place in 54.65 seconds.

The win is the third at Levi for Austria's titan of the slalom Hirscher, after 2013 and 2016, and a hoped-for start to the season where the 29-year-old will look to build on his seven consecutive world cup overall wins.

Hirscher, whose wife gave birth in October, said after the race: "Last year's summer preparation was very special and this year as well. Last year, injured, and this year, carrying our little son through the living room."

The traditional winner's trophy at Levi, inside the Arctic circle, is a reindeer, which is kept and looked after in Lapland throughout the year.

The winner announced that this year's animal will be christened Mr. Snow, alongside his previous reindeer Leo and Ferdinand.

Sunday's race marks the opening of this year's men's world cup season after the giant slalom at Soelden, Austria was cancelled due to heavy snowfall in October.

Fears that the lack of snow in Levi this autumn could lead to the Finnish stage also being called off proved unfounded after organizers covered the course with snow stored from last spring.

Yesterday's women's race was delayed while wardens shortened the course due to blustery, head-on winds at the top.

Extremely icy conditions at the Arctic resort on Sunday morning led the course setters to relocate the gates away from the steepest part of the slope.

"Today it was not an advantage to start early, that's for sure," Kristoffersen said after his first run. "But that's life."

Last year's winner at Levi, Germany's Felix Neureuther, announced on Saturday he would not race because of a broken thumb. — AFP