Intro:

Austria's Anna Fenninger won the women's World Cup giant slalom in Are, Sweden on Thursday.

Script:

Sweden hosted the sixth giant slalom of the women's World Cup season on Thursday.

Olympic champion Tina Maze, of Slovenia, was fastest on the first run with a time of 1 minute 12.76 seconds.

Austria's Eva-Maria Brem was 12th after her first run, and then took the lead in her second, with a much improved time of 1 minute 12.48 for a total of 2 minutes 26.78.

Her lead lasted until eighth-placed Anemone Marmottan set a time of 1 minute 12.89 in her second run, moving the Frenchwoman into the lead with an overall time of 2 minutes 26.60.

Marmottan's hold on top spot didn't last long either, as seventh-placed Anna Fenninger immediately beat her time, with a 1 minute 12.75 giving her a total time of 2 minutes 26.39.

That left six more skiers still to go, but nobody was able to match Fenninger's combined time.

Closest was Lara Gut, who went out third from last. Her time of 1 minute 13.37 equalled Brem's overall mark of 2 minutes 26.78 for a share of third place.

Fenninger's second giant slalom win of the season moved her into second in the World Cup discipline standings behind Jesica Lindell-Vikarby, who finished sixth.

The Austrian's 100 points took her to within 67 of leader Maria Hoefl-Riesch in the overall World Cup standings, with six races remaining.