Laura Priovano / GEPA pictures
Top 5 – Women’s Downhill, World Cup Finals Lillehammer
1st 🇮🇹 Laura Pirovano (ITA, 1997, Head) — 1:30.85
2nd 🇺🇸 Breezy Johnson (USA, 1995, Atomic) — +0.15
3rd 🇩🇪 Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (GER, 1996) — +0.25
4th 🇦🇹 Ariane Rädler (AUT, 1995) — +0.29
5th 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher (GER, 2003, Head) — +0.37
Pirovano Delivers Under Pressure to Win the Globe
Laura Pirovano delivered when it mattered most in Lillehammer, winning the World Cup Finals downhill to secure the 2026 downhill globe.
Starting with bib 14 and knowing exactly what she needed, the Italian built her run from the bottom up. She did not have the early speed of her rivals, but as the course unfolded, she found another level.
Pirovano was fastest where the race is won — through the final sections of Olympiabakken. She set the best times in the key lower sectors, carrying speed and strength through the finish to take the lead by 0.15 seconds.
With the victory, she completed one of the most remarkable late-season surges in recent memory — three consecutive downhill wins to close the season.
In the finish, she collapsed in joy.
“I felt honestly not so good skiing down there,” Pirovano said. “When I crossed the finish line, I was afraid to see my time. But when I saw the green light, I said, ‘Oh my God, that’s not possible today.’”
“It’s more than a dream,” she said. “I didn’t even dare to dream about this one — it was too big.”
The pressure was real heading into the final run, especially after watching Kira Weidle-Winkelmann’s performance.
“I was so nervous yesterday and this morning,” Pirovano said. “I saw Kira’s run and she was so good, so I just said, ‘Go down and give everything you have — think about the rest later.’”
Remarkably, nothing about her approach changed during this breakthrough at the end of the season.
“That’s the crazy thing — my skiing is the same, my approach is the same,” she said. “I changed nothing.”
Now she leaves Norway as the best women’s downhill skier of the 2026 season.
Lindsey Vonn’s absence opened the door — but Pirovano didn’t wait. She took control of the season when it mattered most.
From Breakthrough to Champion
Pirovano didn’t ease into the title race — she forced her way into it.
She earned the first World Cup downhill podiums of her career in the final two regular-season races — and won both. That surge gave her the lead heading into the Finals.
Now she leaves Norway as the best downhill skier of the 2026 season.
Lindsey Vonn’s absence opened the door — but Pirovano didn’t wait. She took control of the season when it mattered most.
Johnson Sets the Pace, Finishes 2nd
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Breezy Johnson, the reigning Olympic and World Champion, delivered a powerful run from bib 10 and came close to taking the win.
She was strong from the start, building speed through the upper sections and setting the tone early. But the lower part of the course proved decisive. Johnson could not match Pirovano’s strength through the final sectors, ultimately finishing 2nd, +0.15.
“I felt like I left it all out on the hill,” Johnson said. “I felt like I had a good run. It just wasn’t quite enough today.”
Johnson emphasized that execution — not mistakes — defined her performance.
“I was putting together things from the training runs,” she said. “We adjusted tactically from yesterday, and I managed to execute that pretty well.”
Despite narrowly missing the win, Johnson remained composed about the result.
“When you’re an athlete that’s never won a World Cup, you can’t be ridiculously disappointed that you didn’t do something you’ve never done,” Johnson said. “I’m still proud of myself, and I feel like I skied well.”
The result caps the strongest seasons of her career, finishing third in the downhill standings.
“I wouldn’t trade this season for the world,” she said. “I’m skiing really well right now.”
Weidle-Winkelmann Charges Late for Podium
Kira Weidle-Winkelmann needed a victory to keep her title hopes alive and attacked accordingly.
After giving up time early, the German delivered a strong finish — the fastest final sector of the race — climbing into third place.
But the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
“For me, that was the key this year — to enjoy skiing more, to enjoy the competition and to be on top and fight against the best racers in the world and have fun in this process,” Weidle-Winkelmann said.
Aicher Misses Her Opportunity
Emma Aicher entered the race as Pirovano’s closest challenger and a contender for both the downhill and overall titles.
The 22-year-old attacked from bib 11 but could not match the pace of the leaders. She crossed the line initially in third before being pushed down to fifth place (+0.37).
The result keeps her second in the downhill standings — but hands the globe to Pirovano.
Rädler’s Run Shifts the Overall Race
Austria’s Ariane Rädler delivered a crucial performance from bib 17, finishing fourth and pushing Aicher down one position.
That change reduced Aicher’s points from 50 to 45, a small but important swing in the overall standings.
For overall leader Mikaela Shiffrin — who did not race the downhill — it provides a valuable advantage.
Women’s Overall World Cup Standings (After Lillehammer DH)
1st 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin (USA, 1995, Atomic) — 1,286 pts
2nd 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher (GER, 2003, Head) — −95
Aicher gains points but leaves valuable ones on the table, giving Shiffrin a stronger position heading into the final events.
Stifel U.S. Ski Team Results
- 2nd 🇺🇸 Breezy Johnson (bib 10, 1995, Atomic) — +0.15
- 14th 🇺🇸 Jacqueline Wiles (bib 16, 1992) — +1.18 → 18 points
- 18th 🇺🇸 Allison Mollin (bib 20, 2004) — +1.48
Wiles secured a top-15 finish and valuable points, while Mollin capped a breakthrough season with her first World Cup Finals appearance.
Mollin Caps Breakthrough Season at World Cup Finals
The final Stifel U.S. Ski Team skier on course was Allison Mollin, capping a breakthrough season in Lillehammer.
She was aiming for a top-15 finish to score points in the final race of the year but crossed the line +1.48, just outside the points.
“Today was mixed,” Mollin said. “I was really happy to be racing Finals, but I feel like I left a little on the hill — so I’m excited to leave the season with a little hunger for next year.”
Still, the bigger picture reflects a major step forward.
“In November, my goals were very different,” she said. “Looking back now, I’m very happy with my season.”
Mollin qualified for her first World Cup Finals and scored her first World Cup points this season — a significant progression in her development.
She credits the strength of the team environment as a key factor.
“It’s really incredible to be part of this U.S. team,” Mollin said. “This is my first full season, so for me this is kind of the standard now — and it’s really cool that we can keep building on that.”
Looking ahead, the focus is already clear.
“Just get back in the gym and get ready to go,” she said. “Take the momentum, the hunger, and the lessons from this year and start working on them right away.”
Final Women’s Downhill Standings (2025–26 Season)
1st 🇮🇹 Laura Pirovano (ITA, 1997, Head) — 536 pts
2nd 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher (GER, 2003, Head) — −83
3rd 🇺🇸 Breezy Johnson (USA, 1995, Atomic) — −123
4th 🇩🇪 Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (GER, 1996) — −125
5th 🇺🇸 Lindsey Vonn (USA, 1984, Head, Oakley) — −136
Lindsey Vonn, who missed the final three downhills of the season due to injury, still finishes fifth in the standings.
A Defining Race of the Season
With the men’s downhill globe secured before the Finals — the women’s downhill stood as the defining race of the day.
Italy dominated the downhills in Kvitfjell, with Dominik Paris winning the men’s earlier in the day — completing a sweep alongside Laura Pirovano’s victory in the women’s race.
On Olympiabakken, under pressure and with everything on the line, Laura Pirovano delivered.
Race results
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Analysis of the top three and North Americans
About the Author: Peter Lange
