Concluding Day in Cortina: Lara Gut-Behrami’s 21st Super-G Victory Moved Her into Title Lead

Featured Image: Lara Gut-Behrami competing in the super-G in Cortina. Credit: GEPA

On Sunday, Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami grasped the lead with a technically solid run in the World Cup super-G in Cortina, Italy. Gut-Behrami hit her stride in the GS-like sections of the course, where her tactical skills shined. 

She stated, “It is nice, and I have good memories here. It has been a weird weekend. I’m happy with my solid run – I tried to stay safe, and often to be safe means to be aggressive,” Gut-Behrami said. “I tried to do my thing and found the lines I wanted, but today was not the day to risk too much.”

Lara Gut-Behrami is the 2024 Altenmarkt-Zauchensee super-G winner, but before today, there had been four different winners in the four races this season. Gut-Behrami is the first athlete this winter to win two super-G races. 

This win marks Gut-Behrami’s 21st super-G win and the third Gut-Behrami victory on the Olympia Delle Tofane (2014 and 2018). She also claimed the gold at the 2021 World Championships in Cortina. She is only the third racer to win on this track more than twice, following Lindsey Vonn (6) and Renate Götschl (5).

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During her post-win interview, Gut-Behrami mentioned the heaviness of this weekend and the amount of injuries from the event. She elaborated on her apprehension, confusion, and why her skiing was more reserved today. “It is getting hard to be consistent and not put yourself in danger skiing,” Gut-Behrami stated. 

The Italians Sofia Goggia and Federica Brignone, who have both won a super-G this season, attacked the course in pursuit of another Italian victory. However, the two could not find the speed to knock Gut-Behrami out of the leader’s chair. Goggia ended in 5th place and Brignone finished 9th.

Before today’s race, Cornelia Hütter, an Austrian athlete, held the top position in the super-G World Cup rankings. She led Gut-Behrami’s by 90 points. Regrettably, during her run, Hütter got air that pushed her late and low; she was forced out of the course and did not finish. This outcome puts Gut-Behrami into the lead for the super-G title, ten points ahead of Hütter. 

Norwegian Ragnhild Mowinckel came in today just off a big win in the downhill. Also, she had won in the Cortina D’Ampezzo super-G last season and was ready to achieve a win this year on the track. However, her loss of speed in the course’s final sector put her +0.53 behind Gut-Behrami’s time and +0.12 off the podium. 

Austrian Stephanie Venier won a downhill during the speed series, finishing over three-tenths in front of Lara Gut-Behrami. Today, she could not beat Gut-Behrami, concluding the day in 2nd place +0.21. 

Romane Miradoli of France rounded out the podium, achieving a career 3rd World Cup podium finish. She has one win in super-G, which was in the 2022 Lenzerheide event.

North Americans

Alpine Canada Alpin’s, Valérie Grenier, was the first North American to start. She ignited from the start and immediately had the fastest time in the first two sections. She came through the middle section of the track, where the three big rollers pushed her late. With her late line, she hit terrain that compressed the athlete and threw her into the air. She got spun onto her back and slid into the net. She had to be attended to and was taken down in a sled. 

Stifel US Ski Team Lauren Macuga has been a powerhouse on race day. She came through the top section with a time revealing potential for a top spot. The rookie held it together even when she got thrown a little late and low. The late line in the last few sections cost her time, but the young athlete still managed a 15th-place result. 

Teammate Bella Wright experienced a crash the day before and received stitches on her chin. However, this did not deter her from participating in the super-G event. Despite not achieving her desired result, she overcame the setback and commendably raced the super-G. 

Jacqueline Wiles came into the super-G off an exhilarating career-best finish, earning a 2nd-place result in the downhill. She had a rowdy run trying to push the line, but it did not pay off for the athlete, landing her in 33rd place. 

Wiles, Keely Cashman and Alice Meeryweather raced one after another, running bibs 38, 39 and 40. The three athletes looked a little timid during their runs, but they could all make it through the finish. 

Tricia Mangan was the last racer of the Stifel US Ski Team. She leaned in and skied out. It was her fourth DNF out of the five super-G races this season. 

The final North American athlete to race was Cassidy Gray, who skied for Alpine Canada Alpin. She came through the finish in the points, earning 29th place. It was an exciting finish for the World Cup rookie.

Two North Americans, Gray and Macuga, scored today.

Top 30 Results

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Analysis of the Fastest Three and North Americans