Gut-Behrami: GEPA pictures/Matic Klansek

Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami takes a commanding (+0.59) lead into the afternoon run of Tuesday’s Kronplatz ERTA World Cup giant slalom (GS). Skiing with bib five, she used her impressive skills to cross the finish (-0.84) faster than her closest rival for the season’s GS title, Italy’s Federica Brignone. None of the talented women racing today could come within half a second of her time, but the nearest is New Zealand’s Alice Robinson (+0.59). Notably, Robinson’s coach, Nils Coberger, set the first run.

The course’s short length, just over a minute, makes Gut-Behrami’s lead more impressive.

Gut-Behrami began the day determined to expand her lead in the season’s World Cup GS standings. With Stifel US Ski Team’s Mikaela Shiffrin and Canadian Valerie Grenier out with injuries, the most significant threats would come from Italy’s Federica Brignone and Sweden’s Sara Hector. With her dominating first run, she has set herself up for her third GS victory of the season.

Hector dominated the last GS in Jasná, Slovakia. Skiing with bib three and using precision and power, she crossed the finish line with a slim (-0.09) lead. However, when the season’s GS leader, Gut-Behrami, skied, she was even more aggressive and crossed the finish (-0.68) faster than the Swede.

There are only four racers within a second of the Gut-Behrami, and these five will likely deliver the podium performances. The sixth quickest from the morning’s run was Italian Marta Bassino, but she is (+1.32) behind the lead and will need a fantastic effort to achieve a podium at the end of the day.

North Americans

Stifel US Ski Team’s Paula Moltzan was the first North American to ski. She skied well but could not find the speed of the leaders. She will enter the afternoon finale as the 9th fastest from the morning but (+1.52) behind the best time. During this season, when her teammate, AJ Hurt, finishes, she is usually sensationally fast. Today, she was more conservative than usual and is situated 15th (+1.74). Both women will likely deliver a great second run and move up the standings.

Just behind Hurt is the Alpine Canada Alpin’s Britt Richardson. Richardson was the 27th skier to attack the course and moved up to 16th (+1.83).

It is always noteworthy when a racer skis their first World Cup. Today, that was the privilege of Canadian Arianne Forget. Although she fell across this line at the bottom of her maiden World Cup run, she will remember it for the rest of her life.

Interesting first-run facts

The weather was perfect and the ERTA was in the direct sun. The surface was compact but far from icy. However, only two racers with bibs above 30 could qualify. The fastest was bib 31 Norwegian Kajsa Vickhoff Lie 10th (+1.58). The highest bib to do so was bib 45 Austria’s Elisa Moerzinger 28th (+2.29).

There were only three racers who did not finish the first run.

Athletes representing 13 countries qualified for the afternoon finale.

With Gut-Behrami’s stellar performance in the first run, she’s poised to extend her lead in the title chase at Kronplatz GS. As the afternoon session unfolds, anticipation builds for a gripping showdown among Gut-Behrami and her closest competitors. Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion of this World Cup giant slalom event.

First-run results of the top 30 and analysis of the fastest three and qualified North Americans.

Analysis of the quickest three and qualified North Americans