Karbon had only won one previous World Cup race

It was her second World Cup victory and she won in a combined time of two minutes 23.21 seconds in Austria.

American Julia Mancuso was second in a time of 2:23.54 and Austrian Kathrin Zettel's storming second run lifted her from 24th to third place.

Brit Chemmy Alcott was in a career-best 11th after the first run but she failed to finish the second leg of the race.

She crashed out when her left ski popped off for no apparent reason.

606: DEBATE I think Chemmy can get a top 3 finish this season Kuzfan

Karbon's win was proof she has overcome the serious knee injury which required three operations and the ankle fracture which forced her to bring a premature end to last season after taking bronze at the World Championships in Are, Sweden, in February.

Finland's Tanja Poutiainen had led Saturday's race at the halfway stage but was unable to build on a fluid opening run.

The 2005 World Cup giant slalom champion could manage only the 21st best time of the second run to take fourth place overall.

Reigning World Cup champion Aksel Lund Svindal from Norway defeated American Ted Ligety to win the men's race on Sunday. Finland's Kalle Palander was third.

Result:

1. Denise Karbon, Italy, 2 minutes, 23.21 seconds
2. Julia Mancuso, United States, 2:23.54
3. Kathrin Zettel, Austria, 2:23.73
4. Tanja Poutiainen, Finland, 2:23.78
5. Tessa Worley, France, 2:23.96
6. Ingrid Jacquemod, France, 2:24.05
7. Anja Paerson, Sweden, 2:24.13
8. Kathrin Hoelzl, Germany, 2:24.26
=9. Elisabeth Goergl, Austria, 2:24.31
=9. Manuela Moelgg, Italy, 2:24.31

Selected other: