Are, Sweden - Didier Cuche of Switzerland clinched the giant slalom World Cup by finishing third in the season-ender in Are, Sweden on Friday.

Benjamin Raich of Austria won to stay in the running for the overall World Cup title, but super-g world champion Cuche's third-place was just enough to give him the discipline title.

Raich posted a combined time of 2 minutes 18.95 seconds, edging Ted Ligety of the United States by 0.13 seconds, with Cuche 0.71 seconds behind Raich.

Raich's win puts him within two points of Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal - who was out of the points - in a thrilling climax to the race for the men's overall crown which will be settled in the slalom on Saturday in Are.

Slalom specialist Raich will now be considered favourite for the overall title.

"Anything can happen in the slalom. The chances are good but you have to race and I will try to put in a good race tomorrow," Raich said.

Raich led after the first leg ahead of Ligety and Cuche who dropped his stick immediately after coming out of the gate.

With heavy snow falling and conditions deteriorating for the top racers, 34-year-old Cuche had to call on all his experience to clinch the third place he needed after the second run for the discipline title.

Going into Saturday's slalom, Svindal has 1,009 points overall, with Raich on 1,007 and Cuche on 919.

Cuche finished with 474 points in the giant slalom standings, ahead of Raich on 462 and Ligety, last season's champion in the discipline, on 421. (dpa)