In women’s World Cup competition at Piancovallo,...

In women’s World Cup competition at Piancovallo, Italy, Catherine Quittet of France, returning from a serious knee injury, upset the Swiss favorites to earn her first-ever win in giant slalom.

The 23-year-old skier gave the French team its first giant slalom victory in four years. She finished ahead of the Swiss duo of Vreni Schneider and Michela Figini, who placed second and third, respectively.

Quittet, whose only previous World Cup victory had been a Super-G in Prfonten, West Germany, last Jan. 17, was the fastest in the first heat down the Ellesse course. She also had the second-best time in the second run for a winning aggregate of 2:27.32.