Valerie Grenier of Canada leads after the first run at the World Cup Finals GS in Hafjell. GEPA pictures
The stakes could not be higher in Hafjell today. With the Overall Globe hanging in the balance, Mikaela Shiffrin does not need fireworks, just precision. A top 15 finish is enough to keep her firmly in control of the title fight, but in a race this tight nothing is guaranteed.
And after run one, it is Canada’s Valerie Grenier who leads the way. Charging from bib 15, Grenier delivered a standout performance to edge Sweden’s Sara Hector by just .02 and take over the top spot. Hector had set a fierce early pace from bib 3, but Grenier answered with composure and speed when it mattered most.
With only .47 separating the top five, the second run is wide open. Every turn matters, every hundredth counts, and with the Overall Globe still in play, this is not just a race. It is the fight for the season.
Top 5 After First Run
- 1st 🇨🇦 Valerie Grenier (CAN), Bib 15 — 1:07.90
- 2nd 🇸🇪 Sara Hector (SWE), Bib 3 — +0.02
- 3rd 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher (GER), Bib 16 — +0.26
- 4th 🇳🇴 Mina Fuerst Holtmann (NOR), Bib 20 — +0.47
- 4th 🇦🇹 Julia Scheib (AUT), Bib 5 — +0.47
Grenier Charges to First After Run One
Valerie Grenier set the tone in run one, carrying speed right from the start and immediately looking confident on the Hafjell surface. She found the feel for the snow early and never let it go, staying composed as she moved through the terrain with control and purpose. It was smooth, efficient skiing from top to bottom, marked by a light touch and clean lines that kept her carrying speed where others struggled.
She kept it simple and error free, skiing with intent but without forcing anything, and that balance paid off. Grenier crossed the line in 1:07.90, sitting in 1st place, just 0.02 ahead of Sara Hector. It is a performance that reflects her growth this season, including a podium on home snow in Tremblant, and now she has a real chance to finish the job.
Hector Right in the Hunt
Sara Hector showed exactly why she is one of the most dangerous GS skiers in the world, delivering a smooth and composed first run that set the early benchmark. The Olympic silver medalist, tied with Thea Louise Stjernesund in Cortina back in February, skied with confidence and clarity, reading the terrain beautifully from top to bottom.
Her line was clean and efficient, and she carried strong speed throughout, but it was the lower section where she truly separated herself. Hector’s tactical approach paid off as she gained significant time on the field down the final pitch. She stopped the clock well ahead of the early starters and held the lead until Valerie Grenier, bib 15, edged her by just 0.02, leaving Hector in 2nd place after run one with everything still to play for.
Aicher Continues to Impress
Emma Aicher is proving once again that she thrives under pressure. Fast right out of the start, she attacked the top section with confidence and showed just how much she has developed this season across all disciplines. It was another composed and mature performance, marked by efficient skiing and a great touch on the snow.
Starting from bib 16, Aicher climbed from outside the favorites and delivered a breakthrough run, sliding into 3rd place after run one, +0.26 off the lead. It is a personal best position after a first run and another sign of her rapid rise on the World Cup stage.
And the bigger picture is still in play. The fight for the Overall Globe is not over. Aicher needs a win, and she will need Mikaela Shiffrin, currently sitting 17th after run one, to finish outside the top 15. No matter how the second run unfolds, Aicher continues to impress and has firmly established herself as one to watch this season.
Overall Globe Still on the Line
The battle for the Overall Globe still hangs in the air heading into the second run.
Top 2 – Women’s Overall World Cup Standings (2025–26)
1st 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) — 1,386 pts
2nd 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher (GER) — −85
The math is simple. Aicher must win. Even then, she needs Shiffrin to finish outside the top 15 or not finish. If Aicher wins and Shiffrin finishes 15th, Shiffrin still takes the title by a single point.
Shiffrin, currently sitting 17th after run one, still controls her own destiny, but with Aicher in 3rd place, the pressure is very real. One run remains, and with it, the fate of the Overall Globe.
🇺🇸 Stifel U.S. Ski Team – Women’s GS After Run 1
- 8th 🇺🇸 Nina O’Brien (USA), Bib 13 — +0.82
- 15th 🇺🇸 A.J. Hurt (USA), Bib 21 — +1.47
- 17th 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin (USA), Bib 7 — +1.55
- 26th 🇺🇸 Paula Moltzan (USA), Bib 6 — +3.79
Nina O’Brien leads the charge for the Americans, sitting in 8th place, +0.82 off the lead after a strong and confident first run. A.J. Hurt is in 15th, +1.47, followed by Mikaela Shiffrin in 17th, +1.55, and Paula Moltzan in 26th, +3.79.
O’Brien set the tone for herself by attacking right out of the start with intent. It was full commitment from top to bottom, skiing with confidence and staying connected to the course the entire way. She kept the time tight throughout the run, delivering one of her most composed performances of the season and putting herself in a strong position heading into run two.
Hurt followed with another solid performance, skiing in her signature aggressive style. She was fast out of the gate, clean and composed through the middle section, and carried great speed in her tuck. It was a smooth, mistake free run that keeps her well within striking distance.
Shiffrin showed speed early but ran into trouble finding her rhythm through the middle section. A bit high and round on her line, she looked slightly unsure at times, and that hesitation cost her momentum. Late in the run, she came out of the delay low and lost speed she could not recover, leaving her in 17th after the first run. With the Overall Globe on the line, she will need to move inside the top 15 in the second run.
Moltzan, who came into the race ranked 5th in GS standings with four podiums this season, struggled to find her flow. There was visible uncertainty in her skiing, and a major mistake near the bottom nearly took her out of the race. She took big air over the final roll and got pushed late and low, managing an impressive recovery, but the damage was done. That moment dropped her down to 26th, +3.79 off the lead, leaving her with a lot of work to do in run two. We all know Paula has had some amazing second runs, so we will see what she can do today.
Richardson Eyes a Comeback Run
- 21st 🇨🇦 Britt Richardson (CAN), Bib 11 — +1.88
Canada’s Britt Richardson showed flashes of speed but could not quite put a full run together in the first heat. She looked solid up top, skiing with intent, but appeared a bit unsure in her line as the course developed. A mistake off the bottom knoll cost her valuable time, and she lost ground through the final section.
She will have work to do in the second run, but Richardson has proven she can deliver under pressure. With her ability to lay down fast second runs, she will be one to watch as she looks to fight her way back up the standings.
Run One Takeaways
Mina Fuerst Holtmann delivered one of the standout runs of the first heat, charging from bib 20 into 4th place, tied with Julia Scheib. Looking for another top 10 result, Holtmann showed confidence on a hill she knows well. She kept it tight from top to bottom, handled the terrain with control, and put together a solid, composed run that puts her right in the mix for a big result.
Seventeen year old Anna Trocker continues to turn heads. After earning her spot at World Cup Finals with a win at World Juniors in Narvik, she showed impressive composure again on the big stage. Fast out of the top and skiing with confidence in just her 7th World Cup start, she managed some hesitation through the middle and a mistake low on the course that pushed her off line, but still landed in a strong 12th place, +1.35.
Austria’s Stephanie Brunner also made a statement, skiing into 6th place from bib 18, just +0.67 off the lead. She showed strong speed throughout the run and is clearly building back her confidence and consistency. A small mistake near the bottom likely cost her even more, but she remains well positioned heading into run two.
Speed specialist Kira Weidle-Winkelmann also made her presence felt. Entering today’s race thanks to surpassing 500 World Cup points, she proved she can mix it up in GS as well, skiing into 19th place and holding her own against some of the discipline’s best. It raises the question whether the German team should give her more opportunities in giant slalom moving forward.
Second Run Wide Open in Hafjell
This second run is set up for a showdown. With just 0.47 separating the top five and only 0.02 between Valerie Grenier and Sara Hector, the margins could not be tighter. One small mistake, one moment of brilliance, and everything changes.
The track will only get more challenging, the pressure will only build, and no lead is safe. From the front to the chasers just behind, this is still anyone’s race.
Tune in for the second run starting at 7:30 AM EST.
First Run Results
Click images to enlarge
Run Analysis of the Leaders and North Americans
About the Author: Katie Twible
