Featured Image: Alice Robinson. Credit: GEPA
The women are back on the Sestriere hill for their back-to-back World Cup giant slalom races. The temperature was similar to the day prior, but fog had rolled in and the sun was absent, which made the lighting more challenging for the athletes.
The opening day of the giant slalom saw a tight race, but Italy’s Federica Brignone secured victory, claiming another World Cup win against Alice Robinson, who currently leads the GS World Cup standings.
Today, it is another tight race between the top competitors. The 15 fastest women are heading into the second run within one second of each other and only 0.07 separate the top 3. The heat is on.
Alice Robinson Aggressively Skis into the Lead
Alice Robinson, the current giant slalom leader in the World Cup standings, executed the first run with aggression and energy.
She got slightly caught towards the end but was able to pull it back and finish in the lead, 0.06 ahead of Swiss athlete Lara Gut-Behrami.
After Robinson’s 2nd-place result yesterday, she stated, “We’ll try and keep more of the same tomorrow and see if I can step it up.”
She did not hold anything back in the first run and unveiled how much she wants the win today. She will be fighting to secure the victory in the second run.
Lara Gut-Behrami Pushes into the Second Fastest Time
Reigning World Cup GS and overall globe winner, Lara Gut-Behrami, has been searching for her first victory this season.
Yesterday, she unfortunately went out in the lower section of the course and was unable to finish. Thereby, today she came in with grit and passion to finish and unveiled her technical excellence throughout the course.
Gut-Behrami heads into the second run just +0.06 behind Robinson’s lead.
If she pulls off the win, it will mark her 10th GS World Cup victory, which will make her the first woman to do the alpine skiing “triple-double.” The triple-double is a milestone of 10-plus wins in three disciplines. Pirmin Zurbriggen and Hermann Maier are the only two athletes to have ever achieved it.
Britt Richardson Ignites into the Top 3
Britt Richardson of Alpine Canada Alpin threw down a screaming first run. She executed each turn with energy, ramping up speed through each transition.
From the start, she established her lead and was searching for speed throughout the course. She merely missed the lead at the very end, coming through the finish +0.07 behind the fastest time.
Richardson shook up the top 3, moving Brignone into 4th place heading into the second run.
If the Canadian holds onto her top-3 position after the second run, she will achieve her first World Cup podium.
Federica Brignone in Striking Distance
The Italian, Federica Brignone, won in front of her home crowd yesterday despite not feeling her best.
Although she is +0.12 behind the lead, she proved yesterday that she could execute a second-run charge for the win. She will be pushing it to achieve back-to-back victories on home snow.
Mikaela Shiffrin Does Not Qualify for Second Run
Stifel US Ski Team athlete Mikaela Shiffrin returned back to giant slalom racing the day prior after recovering from an injury in the Killington World Cup.
She has been met with mental barriers in the discipline and has been very honest with herself during her comeback. She is still getting her feet under her and is using this race to work through these mental challenges.
Shiffrin wrote on social media before the races, “I do not feel entirely myself, but I do feel enough of myself to be here, and for now, that is enough.”
Yesterday the G.O.A.T concluded the day in 25th place, but today she was timid on the hill and was unable to qualify for the second run. She will gear up to find success tomorrow in the slalom.
Three Other North Americans in the Top 15
Heading into the second run, three North Americans are in the Top 15 and are a one-second striking distance from the lead.
Alpine Canada Alpin athlete Valerie Grenier was the tenth athlete to kick out of the start gate. She executed her run with a high, early line, which helped her through the bumpier sections of the course. She was able to ski into 8th place, +0.57 behind the lead.
Paula Moltzan of the Stifel US Ski Team had two errors on the course, which pushed her late and low. Nevertheless, she had fantastic recoveries (like usual). Despite losing some speed in critical sections, Moltzan heads into the second run in 11th place, +0.70 behind.
Her teammate AJ Hurt started bib 12 and was driving through each turn. She attacked with energy from panel to panel and was able to pick up speed in the final section. She heads into the second run +1.01 behind Robinson.
Other North Americans Who Qualified for Second Run
Nina O’Brien of the Stifel US Ski Team had the green light coming off the upper pitch, but on the lower pitch she got slightly bumped out of the course. O’Brien recovered but had lost speed coming into the lower flats. She heads into the second run in 16th place, +1.05 behind.
Her teammate Elisabeth Bocock laid down a solid first run and was able to ski into the top 30, heading into the second run in 24th position. The 19-year-old is +1.95 behind the pace but will be gunning it for a top GS result this season.
Top 3 Analysis

Top 30 First Run Results

North Americans in the Top 30



























