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Carlo Janka won the overall World Cup, becoming the first Swiss man to take the title for 18 years.

Racing last and needing first place to clinch the title, Janka, who last year battled a mysterious virus which made him permanently weary, won the giant slalom to open up an unassailable 106-point lead over Austria's Benjamin Raich with one race left in the season.

In a rare show of emotion, the usually ice-cool Janka collapsed on the ground and raised his arms in the air after seeing that he was first, setting off a cacophony of cowbells and rattles among the Swiss fans at the finish line.

The last Swiss man to win the title was Paul Accola in 1992. Janka, 23, is one of the youngest men to win the title, older only than compatriots Peter Luescher, who was 22 when he triumphed in 1979, and Pirmin Zurbriggen, who was 21 when he won the first of his four titles in 1984.

Raich, champion in 2006, finished eighth in the race to make sure of second place overall for a remarkable fourth year in a row and the fifth time in the last six.

The Austrian led the standings for much of the season although he won only race.

Janka, Olympic and world champion in the giant slalom, led after the first leg of Friday's event.

He produced only the eighth fastest run in the second leg but it was enough to win the race and title.

Italy's Davide Simoncelli was second and Ted Ligety of the United States finished joint third with Austrian Philipp Schoerghofer to clinch the giant slalom title for the season.

"It's incredible for me to win this at the age of 23," Janka said.

"It was totally unexpected because I was sick with my virus, so I never expected to be challenging for the World Cup.

"It has been an amazing season with ups and downs. To have won the big three at my age is perfect. It has been a long time for Switzerland and this is something I'm really glad about."

He said of his opponent: "Benjamin is one of the fairest rivals you can have and it would not have been an injustice if he had won."

Raich refused to be downhearted about yet another near miss.

"Janka has been incredible this year," he said. "I was fighting hard until the end but Janka was a level above me.

"You have to accept this. I'm very proud of it, I was also third in the giant slalom World Cup which means I had a good season."

Alpine Skiing - World Cup Garmisch- Partenkirchen

Men's Slalom Saturday 7.45am and 11am LIVE on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin 521) and Eurosport Player     

Women's Slalom Saturday 8.45am and 11.45am LIVE on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin 521) and Eurosport Player       

Reuters