Meillard tops first run of Kitzbuehel slalom, Noel lurks
Switzerland's Loic Meillard was first out of the start hut in overcast conditions and the reigning world champion clocked a leading 50.97 seconds down the Ganslern course.
Noel, who won Olympic slalom gold in Beijing four years ago, was 0.79sec off the Swiss racer's pace as just eight skiers got within a second of Meillard.
Finland's Eduard Hallberg was second fastest, ahead of Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen, Austrian Manuel Feller, Belgium's Armand Marchant and another Swiss in the shape of Tanguy Nef.
Italy's Alex Vinatzer, second in Kitzbuehel last season, straddled the final gate, while Norway's Atle Lie McGrath and France's Steven Amiez also skied out.
The second leg is scheduled for 1230 GMT.