The Austrian super-combined world champion clocked a combined time of two minutes and 36.48 seconds on the German piste and now leads her closest rival for the crystal globe, Tanja Poutiainen, by 41 points.

The Finn was third, 0.52 seconds adrift, Elisabeth Goergl completing an Austrian double in second place, just 0.12 behind her compatriot.

"It was important to show I had not lost my touch after two weeks without a technical event," said the 22-year-old Zettel, by far the most successful Austrian skier this season.

"It was an important season for me with my world title, my World Cup wins and the prospect of a crystal globe. I've also progressed tremendously in speed events and will certainly go for the big globe in the future," she added.

Zettel was 0.78 seconds behind Tina Maze after the morning's first leg but the Slovenian, silver medallist at the world championships in Val d'Isere, lost considerable time in the afternoon to finish fourth.

"It was a tactical race because I could not afford to lose points here and a victory is obviously the best way to ease the pressure before the World Cup finals in Are," the Austrian said.

Poutiainen only has the Are final race to overtake Zettel and said the Austrian was "the strongest giant slalom specialist".

"It will be hard to catch her because she's a well tuned skiing machine, but I will try my best. With two medals at the worlds, one victory and a series of podium places, I cannot complain about my season," the Finn said.

Goergl also had a fine winter, winning a bronze medal in the super-G in Val d'Isere and a handful of podium placings.

"I helped Kathrin in her fight with Tanja by taking second place. But I still hope to be able to win one race this season," she said.

World Cup leader Lindsey Vonn was disappointed by her eighth place, having failed to earn a podium in giant slaloms this season, but she increased her World Cup lead after main rival Maria Riesch of Germany finished 22nd.

Overall, the American leads with 1,588 points, while world champion Riesch is on 1,174 points on the eve of the penultimate slalom of the season.