Rebensburg emerged on top after first-run leader Eva-Maria Brem botched her second run. Drev swung to second from 6th to finish ahead of Tina Weirather from Liechtenstein.

The winner said she was glad she recovered having struggled at the third gate. "It's petty amazing," she said.

As for Drev, she said she "cannot believe it". "I felt great but did not think I could make the podium."

The 30-year-old Slovenian, long in the shadow of ski legend Tina Maze, has had an excellent season under the new coach Andrea Massi.

She finished second in the previous giant slalom in Flachau, her career best, and seventh in Courchevel in December.

She is now seventh in the giant slalom rankings.

Drev's success capped an extraordinary day for Slovenian winter sports, after Boštjan Kline finished as runner-up in the men's downhill and Peter Prevc, Robert Kranjec and Domen Prevc secured a Slovenian trifecta in ski jumping in Sapporo.