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La Thuile Women’s Downhill: Who’s Racing, Start Time, and How to Watch
The Women’s World Cup Downhill Continues in Kvitfjell
The Women’s World Cup downhill returns to Kvitfjell, Norway, for the second of two races at the venue and the sixth of eight downhills on the 2025 World Cup calendar. A longtime fixture on the men’s World Cup tour since 1993, the course hosted women’s downhill for the first time in March 2023. Last year’s scheduled race was canceled due to weather, but this season, the world’s fastest women are back to take on Olympiabakken’s high-speed, technical terrain for the second time in two days.
A Demanding Test for Every Skill
The Kvitfjell-Olympiabakken course pushes downhill racers to their limits. It blends long gliding sections with technical turns, big jumps, and aggressive terrain changes. Skiers must push their speed while adapting to the track’s changing rhythm and steep drops.
- Course length: 8,694 feet (2,650 meters)
- Start elevation: 2,920 feet (890 meters)
- Finish elevation: 597 feet (182 meters)
- Vertical drop: 2,323 feet (708 meters)
- Steepest section: Winther’s Cut, with a 64% gradient
Designed by Bernhard Russi for the 1994 Winter Olympics, the track has become a classic venue for World Cup downhill racing. Success demands aerodynamics, strength, timing, and risk management—the key elements that separate the best in the world.
Podium From the Last World Cup Women’s Downhill in Kvitfjell
Saturday marks the second of two downhills in Kvitfjell this season. On Friday, Cornelia Hütter skied with confidence and focus to claim her second downhill victory of the season. The win puts her in strong contention to defend her 2024 season title.
Just 0.15 seconds behind, Germany’s Emma Aicher, a 21-year-old four-discipline skier, secured her first career World Cup podium with a fast and aggressive run. Adding to the excitement, newly crowned World Downhill Champion Breezy Johnson of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team returned to the podium for the first time since 2021, finishing third.
This Season’s Downhill Podiums
These results highlight the depth of talent and tight competition among the world’s best.
| Race Location | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birds of Prey, Beaver Creek (USA) | Cornelia Hütter (AUT) | Sofia Goggia (ITA) | Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) |
| St. Anton, Austria | Federica Brignone (ITA) | Malorie Blanc (SUI) | Ester Ledecka (CZE) |
| Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy | Sofia Goggia (ITA) | Kajsa Vickhoff Lie (NOR) | Federica Brignone (ITA) |
| Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany | Federica Brignone (ITA) | Sofia Goggia (ITA) | Corinne Suter (SUI) |
| Kvitfjell, Norway (1st race) | Cornelia Hütter (AUT) | Emma Aicher (GER) | Breezy Johnson (USA) |
Current Top 15 Standings
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The top 15 in the downhill standings after the first Kvitfjell race represent seven countries:
- Austria (AUT) – 4 athletes
- Italy (ITA) – 3 athletes
- United States (USA) – 3 athletes
- Switzerland (SUI) – 2 athletes
- Czech Republic (CZE) – 1 athlete
- Norway (NOR) – 1 athlete
- Slovenia (SLO) – 1 athlete
Top Five Overview
With only two regular-season downhills remaining, the race for the title is heating up. Three skiers are within 26 points of the lead, making every run crucial. Austria has the most depth inside the top 15, but Italy holds two of the top three spots, led by standings leader Federica Brignone.
| Rank | Name | Nation | Points | Point Differential to Leader |
| 1 | Federica Brignone | ITA | 334 | 0 |
| 2 | Sofia Goggia | ITA | 310 | -24 |
| 3 | Cornelia Hütter | AUT | 308 | -26 |
| 4 | Lara Gut-Behrami | SUI | 197 | -137 |
| 5 | Laura Pirovano | ITA | 164 | -170 |
Who to Watch For
- Cornelia Hütter is the favorite after winning Friday’s downhill, her second victory of the season, as she pushes to defend her 2024 title.
- Emma Aicher, a 21-year-old German, impressed with her first career podium, finishing just 0.15 seconds behind. She’ll look to prove it wasn’t a one-time result.
- Breezy Johnson, the World Downhill Champion, returned to the World Cup podium for the first time since 2021. Sitting sixth in the standings, she’s aiming for another top finish.
- Federica Brignone, the downhill standings leader (334 points), will look to bounce back after missing the podium. Sofia Goggia (310 points) and Lara Gut-Behrami (fourth in standings) are also contenders.
With only two regular-season downhills left, every point matters for those fighting for the Finals and the season title.
Fifty-one athletes from 12 countries will compete in the Kvitfjell World Cup Downhill on Saturday, Mar 1.
North American Contenders
North American skiers are ready to challenge the world’s best on the demanding Olympiabakken course in Kvitfjell, Norway. With a mix of veterans, rising stars, and athletes aiming for breakthrough performances, the Stifel U.S. Ski Team and Alpine Canada Alpin bring depth and potential to the race.
Stifel U.S. Ski Team and Independent Cutler in the Downhill
Breezy Johnson, the newly crowned Downhill World Champion, moved up to sixth place in the standings after securing her first World Cup podium since 2021. With 163 points, she is in a strong position heading into the final stretch of the season.
Lauren Macuga continues her impressive season, now ranked ninth with 150 points. Her 15th-place finish in the first Kvitfjell race keeps her well within the top 10 in the standings.
Jacqueline Wiles has been gaining momentum, moving up to 14th with 94 points. She has three straight top-15 finishes and earned her second-best result of the season with eighth place today.
Lindsey Vonn, ranked 19th with 71 points, will race her fifth downhill since returning from retirement. She opened with a sixth-place finish in St. Anton and continued her comeback with 13th place in the first Kvitfjell race.
Isabella Wright picked up her first World Cup points of the season in Kvitfjell, finishing 23rd and adding 8 points to her total. She now sits 39th in the downhill standings.
Keely Cashman is the only other Stifel U.S. Ski Team member with World Cup downhill points, currently ranked 43rd with 3 points.
The U.S. will also start Tricia Mangan and independent racer Haley Cutler, seeking their first downhill points of the season. Independent Cutler finished 33rd with bib 50, just short of earning her first World Cup career points. She will have another opportunity on Saturday.
North American Women with World Cup Downhill Points
Alpine Canada Alpin
The Alpine Canada Alpin women faced a tough day in Kvitfjell, finishing well back in the field. With a second race ahead, they will be looking for stronger performances and a chance to gain more experience in downhill.
Valérie Grenier has raced three downhills this season, finishing outside the points in St. Anton and placing 21st in Cortina d’Ampezzo. She currently sits 39th in the standings with 10 points after finishing 45th out of 49 in Friday’s Kvitfjell race.
Cassidy Gray, a downhill newcomer, started just two World Cup downhills. On Friday, she finished 46th, right behind Grenier, as she continues to gain experience in speed events.
Stay tuned for results, updates, and analysis from Kvitfjell.
Stifel U.S. Ski Team Athletes Racing Downhill
- Bib 3, Lauren Macuga, Stifel USST, Park City Ski Team, Winter Sports School
- Bib 6, Breezy Johnson, Stifel USST, Rowmark Ski Academy, Atomic
- Bib 20, Jacqueline Wiles, Stifel USST, White Pass Ski Club
- Bib 21, Lindsey Vonn, Stifel USST, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, HEAD, Oakley
- Bib 31, Valérie Grenier, ACA, Club de Ski Mont Tremblant
- Bib 32, Isabella Wright, Stifel USST, Snowbird Sports Education Foundation, Atomic
- Bib 40, Tricia Mangan, Stifel USST, HoliMont Snowsports, Dartmouth College, HEAD
- Bib 43, Keely Cashman, Stifel USST, Team Palisades Tahoe, HEAD
- Bib 48, Haley Cutler, USA Independent, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, Atomic
- Bib 50, Cassidy Gray, ACA, Team Panorama, Atomic
How and When to Watch
The race starts at 4:30 a.m. Eastern and 1:30 a.m. Pacific Time.
U.S. audiences can watch the race live or as a replay on Ski and Snowboard Live.
Sports enthusiasts in Canada can watch the World Cup on CBC Sports.
Daily Program and Start List
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Start List
About the Author: Peter Lange
