BORMIO, Italy (AFP) - Manfred Moelgg of Italy won the men's slalom World Cup here on Saturday after finishing sixth in the closing race.

It was a dramatic finish to the season as long-time leader Jean-Baptiste Grange appeared to have overall victory in his sights only to make a huge mistake just four gates from home.

That meant he slumped down the race standings and allowed Moelgg, who started the day 21 points adrift of the Frenchman to assure victory even though he could only place sixth in the race.

The closing race was won by Reinfried Herbst of Austria ahead of Daniel Albrecht of Switzerland and Marcel Hirscher of Austria.

Moelgg, 25, had clocked the fastest time in the first run, and after Grange finished over four seconds adrift in the second the Italian virtually secured the title.

He ended as the slalom champion with 531 points, 19 ahead of Grange.

The 23-year-old Frenchman was philosopgical in defeat, but hugely disappointed.

"It's a huge disappointment. I can't believe I lost the title with only four gates to go," said Grange.

"If I'd got to the finish line I'm sure I would have won the title. It's really, really hard to accept right now, but I'm sure I'll get over it.

"I've got a promising future ahead of me."

Moelgg is the first Italian to win the slalom crystal globe since Giorgio Rocca, in 2006.

Grange had dominated the slalom series all season, claiming four victories in all, three from the technical event.

However a mediocre end to his season allowed Moelgg to close the gap, and the Italian's first ever World Cup win - after numerous podium places in his career - came in timely fashion last week at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.

Moelgg admitted he wasn't aware of Grange's late setback.

"I didn't know Grange had made a mistake. It was only when I'd finished that I realised how disappointed the French fans were."