SEMMERING, Austria –
World Cup women’s overall leader Mikaela Shiffrin held on to a big advantage in the opening run to win a giant slalom on Tuesday, the American’s first triumph in the discipline in more than a year.
With a 0.72 second lead over Petra Vlhova in the first leg, Shiffrin lost almost six tenths of the advantage when her Slovakian rival set the fastest time in the final run, but eventually won by 0.13 seconds. .
The result marked Shiffrin’s fourth World Cup win of the season and 78th overall, leaving her four shy of the women’s record set by former teammate Lindsey Vonn.
Marta Bassino, who won the previous GS and remains top of the discipline standings, trails 0.31 in third. Olympic GS champion Sara Hector of Sweden trailed 1.52 in eighth.
It was the 15th GS victory overall for Shiffrin, who was the 2018 Olympic champion, but the first since her triumph in Courchevel, France, in December 2021. She had achieved only one podium on the seven previous giant slaloms in calendar year 2022.
“Very special,” Shiffrin said of the end of the drought. “The GS is one of the toughest events for me, but also, when I’m skiing well, it’s just amazing.”
The race replaced the season-opening giant slalom which was canceled at another Austrian resort, S├╢lden, in October, and is the first in a three-day series, followed by another GS on Wednesday and a night slalom the next day.
“The start (of an event) with three races is always a little nerve-wracking. You’re hoping you’re in good shape, that you can bring some intensity to the start,” Shiffrin said.
The American won all three events when Semmering last held three-day races in a row in December 2016 and was on her way to the first of her four World Cup titles.
Sofia Goggia, the Italian speed specialist and second to Shiffrin in the general classification, does not compete in the Semmering, which allows the American to increase her lead to 205 points.
Shiffrin laid the groundwork for his win with a near-perfect opening run.
She got off to a blistering start at Semmering and gained considerable time over her rivals in the first 15 seconds of the race and posted the fastest split times in all but the last section.
“From the first turn I felt very good, I was very strong and dynamic, so I’m super happy with my skiing,” said Shiffrin, who earlier this season won two slaloms and a super-G.
USA Ski Team coach Magnus Andersson led the way for round two on the Panorama course, which was in good condition despite mild days in eastern Austria.
“For me, it’s way better than I expected for the hot weather,” Shiffrin said.
“The second run was a bit wild at times, but I really enjoyed racing here. It’s not easy to win these races, with a big lead after the first race.
Valérie Grenier posted the fourth fastest time in the opening run, but was disqualified after the Canadian left the starting house too soon.
Shiffrin’s American teammate Paula Moltzan placed 10th, two weeks after earning her career-best eighth at a GS in Italy.
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