Featured Image: Sofia Goggia. Credit: GEPA
The women took on another downhill race of the 2025 season in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on the historic Olympia delle Tofane track.
It was an absolutely stunning day with bluebird skies and mint conditions, allowing the women to push themselves on the speedy course. Overnight the weather turned colder, and the track got faster from the training days.
This was the third women’s World Cup downhill of the 2025 season. The first downhill in Beaver Creek was won by Cornelia Hütter of Austria, and in the second, Federica Brignone of Italy achieved victory.
Today, Sofia Goggia was triumphant, achieving her 19th downhill victory and her fourth on this home track.
Goggia stated, “Today I felt like I had my heart in my throat. I was really emotional in the start gate.”
With her “full-send” style, she kept spectators on the edge of their seats. She unveiled confidence with a tight line, quick recoveries, and well-executed jumps.
This is an extremely impressive win as she is returning to snow this season from a violent injury sustained on February 5th last year. The Italian fractured her tibia and malleolus of her right foot, resulting in a surgery that required a plate with screws.
During her back-to-snow recovery, she wrote on social media, “A lot of work…so much patience…and so much heart.”
The 32-year-old unveiled so much heart in this performance and took a well-deserved bow in the finish arena in front of her local fans.
“Cortina is not just a downhill or a race. It means the world to me and it is always special to race here, stay here and to win here,” Goggia explained.
The Podium
Wearing bib 2, Kajsa Vickhoff Lie of Norway remained composed and driven from top to bottom and handled the critical sections with ease. She established a solid lead (-0.57) ahead of Jacqueline Wiles, who was the first racer to hit the track.
Her time kept her on the top until Goggia’s dominating run. Vickhoff Lie remained in 2nd place, earning her 7th World Cup podium result and her 2nd on this track.
The other top Italian speed athlete, Federica Brignone, rounded out the podium. After her victory in St. Anoton last week, she unveiled confidence and composure through every critical section of the course, finishing the day +0.55 behind her teammate.
This marked her ninth downhill podium, and she has taken the lead in the downhill World Cup standings.
Lindsey Vonn’s Return to Cortina
Lindsey Vonn made her return to a track that holds big milestones for the veteran. Cortina marks the race where she earned her first career World Cup podium back in 2004. Also, she remains the most winningest female in Cortina with 12 World Cup victories split evenly between downhill and super-G.
Today, the U.S. superstar was aggressive in the first few turns and compressed nicely off the initial jump; however, she was behind the mark in the first few intervals, so she needed to accelerate into the bottom sections.
She was rock solid through the middle section of the course but lost speed in the final section with a slight bobble before the final jump. She wrapped up the day in 20th place, scoring her second downhill World Cup points since her return.
Stifel U.S. Ski Team Athletes in the Top 30
Jacqueline Wiles of the Stifel US Ski Team was first out of the gate, setting the pace at 1:34.94.
The 32-year-old is not new to this track, claiming the podium twice at this venue, in 2018 and last season.
Before the race, Wiles stated, “My favorite moment was definitely last year, being on the podium with the girls. My dad surprised me at the last minute by coming here. It was a full-circle moment just from the last time being here and all the injuries. It holds a special place in my heart.”
Although she got bucked off a few of the jumps, she continued to attack the line. Wiles finished the day in 7th place, the top North American of the day.
Lauren Macuga finished as the next fastest North American, achieving a respectable 16th place.
Although the young U.S. athlete is still new to the World Cup circuit, she is already achieving milestones. Coming off of two top-10 results in downhill this season and a victory in the St. Anton super-G, she exuded confidence throughout the course.
Breezy Johnson of the Stifel US Ski Team is also in a comeback season after a suspension from a whereabouts violation with the USADA. Her run was a sketchy one, with multiple scary mistakes. Nevertheless, she fearlessly held on and was able to maintain speed, earning 22nd place.
Keely Cashman threw down a strong run finishing in 28th place, earning her first downhill World Cup points of the season. Coming from bib-44, Cashman was the highest bib number to enter the top 30. Her top downhill result was in 2020 in Val d’Isere, where she earned a 16th-place result.
Valerie Grenier Shines for Canada
Valerie Grenier, representing Alpine Canada Alpin, was the only Canadian athlete to secure a position within the top 30. Competing on the same track where she sustained an injury last season marked a notable accomplishment for her.
In the 2024 Cortina super-G, Grenier had a nasty crash resulting in a fractured humerus, torn ACL, partially torn MCL, and torn meniscus. She had explained that she was feeling like the “demon had dispersed” after the training runs and was ready for race day.
Grenier concluded the day in 21st place.
This was the final opportunity for the women to compete on the Cortina track before the Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games.
Top 30 Race Results
Top Three Analysis
North American Analysis
About the Author: Ellie Hartman
