BORMIO, Italy (AFP) - Newly-crowned overall World Cup champion Bode Miller gatecrashed the party to top the standings after the first leg of the men's final giant slalom of the season Friday.

However it was Austrian Benjamin Raich, the provisional leader until Miller beat him by 0.24secs after a commanding, smooth run down the Stelvio course, who will be feeling most pleased.

Olympic giant and slalom champion Raich finished second to give himself a slight edge over series leader Ted Ligety for the deciding second leg.

Ligety currently leads Raich by 27 points in the giant slalom standings, but the American was pushed down to seventh place at 0.53secs behind Miller.

With 100 points for victory, 80 for second, 60 for third and so on for the first 15 finishers, the stage will now be set for an exciting second leg duel, which begins at 1130 GMT.

In third place was Italian Massimiliano Blardone, at 0.32, while Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Grange claimed a surprise fourth place finish just ahead of Austrian Hermann Maier.

Italian Manfred Moelgg, third in the giant standings at 38 points behind Ligety, finished 0.69 behind Miller.