WENGEN, Switzerland (AP) - Vincent Kriechmayr of Austria led from a strong Italian challenge after the opening downhill portion of a World Cup combined event on Friday.
On a shorter 2.9-kilometer Lauberhorn course, Kriechmayr was 0.59 seconds faster than teammate Hannes Reichelt, who said he would skip the afternoon slalom leg.
That left three Italians as Kriechmayr's closest challengers: Dominik Paris, Peter Fill and 2014 Olympic bronze medalist Christof Innerhofer had from 0.74 to 0.84 to make up in the slalom.
Downhill specialist Kjetil Jansrud of Norway was seventh fastest trailing by 1.07.
World champion Luca Aerni of Switzerland was well placed among the slalom specialists with 2.15 to make up.
The previous combined winner this season, Alexis Pinturault of France, opted not to start to focus on Sunday's slalom.
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(AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti). Austria's Vincent Kriechmayr competes during the first portion of an alpine ski, men's World Cup combined race, in Wengen, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 12, 2018.
(Anthony Anex/Keystone via AP). Dominik Paris of Italy reacts in the finish area during the downhill portion of the men's Alpine combined at the Alpine skiing World Cup in Wengen, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 12, 2018.
(AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti). Norway's Kjetil Jansrud competes during the first portion of an alpine ski, men's World Cup combined race, in Wengen, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 12, 2018.
(AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti). Switzerland's Luca Aerni competes during the first portion of an alpine ski, men's World Cup combined race, in Wengen, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 12, 2018.
(AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati). Austria's Hannes Reichelt competes during the first portion of an alpine ski, men's World Cup combined race, in Wengen, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 12, 2018.