Carlo Janka of Switzerland led the way on Friday after the first run in the world championship giant slalom ski race, dpa reported.
Janka, 22, posted 1 minute 8.25 seconds on the Bellavarde piste to lead from the 2006 Olympic champion Benjamin Raich of Austria (1:08.73) and Italian Massimiliano Blardone (1:09.21).
Didier Cuche of Switzerland was also in contention to add to his super-g gold and downhill silver in Val d'Isere after placing fourth in 1:09.38.
But defending champion Aksel Lund Svindal trailed Janka by 2.21 seconds to place outside the top 10 ahead of the second run set for 1230 GMT.