SOELDEN, Austria — Daniel Albrecht and Didier Cuche gave Switzerland a 1-2 finish Sunday in the men's season-opening World Cup giant slalom on the icy Rettenbach course.

Defending giant slalom champion Ted Ligety of the United States was third, with teammate and defending overall World Cup champion Bode Miller in 10th.

Albrecht, who led after the first leg, finished in a two-run combined time of 2 minutes, 15.78 seconds to beat Cuche by 0.14 seconds.

It was Albrecht's third World Cup victory after two wins in 2007 — a giant slalom and a super combined, both in Beaver Creek, Colo. He also became the first Swiss to win the season-opening event since Steve Locher in 1996.

"Someone told me before the start it was that long ago that a Swiss racer won here," Albrecht said. "So I thought it was about time to change that."

Ligety was 1.25 seconds behind Albrecht, while Benjamin Raich placed fourth, another 0.05 seconds behind.

Ligety started the defense of his red bib as discipline champion in style with a podium finish.

"I am definitely happy," Ligety said. "It's good to be on the podium after the first race.

Ligety climbed from fourth after the opening leg to third despite posting only the 20th best time in his second run.

"The second run was a little tough," he said. "I did really well coming into the big ditch but I made a big mistake. I lost my confidence there."

Miller was fifth after the opening run, but fell back on the second to trail Albrecht by 1.59 seconds.

American Tim Jitloff finished 20th, 2.44 seconds behind Albrecht, to earn his first World Cup points.

"It was like a hurdle and now I can say I've done it and feel confident," Jitloff said. "A bunch of guys in our team have great success in the World Cup and now I can say: 'Hey, I can do that to.' "

Former overall champion Aksel Lund Svindal, who won the race last year, made his return to the World Cup circuit almost a year after a downhill training crash put him out for the season. He finished 13th, 1.76 seconds behind Albrecht.

"I am feeling good but I obviously can't be satisfied with how I raced," Svindal said.

The men's World Cup circuit continues with a slalom race in Levi, Finland, on Nov. 16.