Aicher, Pirovano, Johnson / GEPA pictures
Italy’s Laura Pirovano delivered the run of her career Friday, winning the women’s World Cup downhill in Val di Fassa and claiming her first career World Cup podium — and victory — in front of an electric home crowd.
Pirovano won in 1:21.40, edging Germany’s Emma Aicher by just 0.01 seconds, while Stifel U.S. Ski Team star Breezy Johnson finished third at +0.29.
Germany’s Kira Weidle-Winkelmann placed fourth at +0.32, and Austria’s Cornelia Hütter finished fifth at +0.34.
Top Five
- 🇮🇹 Laura Pirovano (ITA) — Bib 8 — 1997 — 1:21.40 — Head
- 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher (GER) — Bib 11 — 2003 — +0.01 — Head
- 🇺🇸 Breezy Johnson (USA) — Bib 9 — 1996 — +0.29 — Atomic
- 🇩🇪 Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (GER) — Bib 7 — 1996 — +0.32
- 🇦🇹 Cornelia Hütter (AUT) — Bib 10 — 1992 — +0.34 — Head
How did Pirovano win her first World Cup race?
Pirovano built the fastest run where the race demanded it most — the lower half of La VolatA.
She was only 12th in Sector 1, but the Italian steadily increased speed through the middle of the course. She posted the third-fastest Sector 3, second-fastest Sector 4, and the fastest final sector to secure the victory.
“It’s unbelievable what happened today,” Pirovano said. “I just tried to ski like every race I did this year. The confidence was there. I knew I was skiing well and today it seems it was the day.”
The win carried special meaning. Pirovano grew up only a short distance from Val di Fassa, and the Italian crowd created one of the loudest atmospheres of the women’s speed season.
“The Italian crowd and the atmosphere were amazing,” she said. “The slope was great and everything was perfect today.”
Despite the breakthrough result, Pirovano said she is staying focused on the next race.
“I don’t want to think too much about the standings,” she said. “I just want to stay focused on my skiing race by race. Today I’m just really happy.”
Where did Aicher and Johnson gain and lose time?
The margin between the top three came down to specific sections of the course.
Emma Aicher produced the strongest middle section of the race. She was 16th in Sector 1, then immediately surged with the fastest Sector 2, putting herself into contention for the victory.
But Pirovano’s closing performance proved decisive.
Breezy Johnson, the reigning World and Olympic downhill champion, skied one of the most aggressive runs of the race.
She was:
- 4th fastest in Sector 1
- Fastest in Sector 3
Those strong sections kept Johnson close to the leaders. However, she lost significant time in Sector 4, which ultimately kept her from challenging for the win.
What did Emma Aicher say after missing the win by 0.01 seconds?
Aicher said the run felt solid even if the margin between victory and second place could hardly have been smaller.
“The top was OK,” Aicher said. “I made some parts better than in training, so I would say it was an OK race. One-hundredth of a second is nothing.”
The 22-year-old German, who already has two downhill victories this season, said the result gives her confidence heading into Saturday’s second downhill on the same track.
“Of course I hope I can be faster tomorrow,” Aicher said. “I’m just going to try to ski as well as I did today and maybe do some things better.”
What did Johnson say about the race?
Johnson said she was satisfied with the effort despite the narrow margins.
“Obviously at the end of the season everybody wants a little bit more, but I’m happy with how I skied,” Johnson said. “I felt like I left it all out there.”
She also praised Pirovano after the Italian’s breakthrough victory.
“I’m really happy for Laura,” Johnson said. “It’s so well deserved and I think everybody on tour was excited to see that happen.”
Johnson said the Val di Fassa downhill is deceptively technical.
“It’s kind of a sprint downhill,” she said. “It’s tricky because it’s so bumpy. You can’t grind underneath the turns because that’s really slow, but you also have to go straight because the gates are very offset.”
Johnson added she is already looking ahead to the second downhill scheduled on the same track Saturday.
What does the downhill globe race look like after Val di Fassa?
Friday’s result significantly tightened the downhill standings behind injured leader Lindsey Vonn.
Vonn still leads the discipline with 400 points, but she will not race again this season after suffering a leg injury in the Olympic downhill. That leaves the fight wide open with two races remaining — another downhill in Val di Fassa and the World Cup Finals.
Aicher’s second place moved her closer to the lead, while Pirovano’s victory pushed the Italian into the top three of the standings. Johnson’s podium also keeps her mathematically in the fight as the season approaches its final races.
Current World Cup downhill standings (Top 5)
- 🇺🇸 Lindsey Vonn (USA, 1984, Head) — 400 pts
- 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher (GER, 2003, Head) — −14
- 🇮🇹 Laura Pirovano (ITA, 1997, Head) — −64
- 🇩🇪 Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (GER, 1996) — −94
- 🇺🇸 Breezy Johnson (USA, 1996, Atomic) — −117
How did the Stifel U.S. Ski Team perform?
The Stifel U.S. Ski Team placed five skiers in the top 30, led by Johnson’s podium.
Jacqueline Wiles finished 11th (+0.75) after improving from difficult training runs.
“I’m really happy with the result,” Wiles said. “I tried to keep a positive mindset and just give it my best on race day.”
She said carrying speed was the key on La VolatA.
“Just releasing the ski as much as possible and trying to stay clean and low in the aero.”
Allison Mollin finished 13th (+0.79) for a career-best World Cup result.
“It is a career best, so that’s always exciting,” Mollin said.
She credited preparation and race execution.
“Just focusing on the points we talked about with my coaches in video and connecting them together.”
Which Americans scored breakthrough points?
Mary Bocock delivered one of the biggest surprises of the race, charging from bib 54 into 24th place (+1.31) to score the first World Cup downhill points of her career. The Rowmark Ski Academy / Stifel U.S. Ski Team skier has already scored World Cup points in Super-G this season, and Friday’s result adds downhill as a second scoring discipline.
“I’m pretty excited,” Bocock said. “I was skiing well in the training runs and I’ve never gotten downhill points before, so obviously I’m excited to do that.”
Bocock said she is beginning to feel more comfortable in the discipline as she gains experience.
“I’m starting to like downhill a little more and more because I still don’t feel too much pressure,” she said. “I’m still learning so much from each hill and need the experience.”
She added that the steady progress she has made this season continues to build confidence.
“My trajectory this year has just kept going upward,” Bocock said. “It gives me confidence that I can keep building and expect a little bit more of myself each run.”
Tricia Mangan also produced a strong late-start performance, finishing 29th (+1.50) from bib 47 to score her first downhill points of the season. She has also shown improving speed in Super-G this winter.
Top 30 Stifel U.S. Ski Team results
- 3rd — Bib 9 — 🇺🇸 Breezy Johnson (USA) — 1996 — +0.29 — Atomic
- 11th — Bib 14 — 🇺🇸 Jacqueline Wiles (USA) — 1992 — +0.75
- 13th — Bib 22 — 🇺🇸 Allison Mollin (USA) — 2004 — +0.79 — Head
- 24th — Bib 54 — 🇺🇸 Mary Bocock (USA) — 2003 — +1.31
- 29th — Bib 47 — 🇺🇸 Tricia Mangan (USA) — 1997 — +1.50 — Head
Which late starters broke into the top 30?
Several racers starting well outside the early start group produced strong results.
The most impressive charge came from Roberta Melesi, who climbed from bib 39 into 15th place.
Mary Bocock also delivered one of the race’s strongest late-start performances.
Skiers starting bib 31 or higher finishing in the top 30
- 15th — Bib 39 — 🇮🇹 Roberta Melesi (ITA) — 1996 — +0.85 — Atomic
- 23rd — Bib 33 — 🇨🇭 Stefanie Grob (SUI) — 2004 — +1.28
- 24th — Bib 54 — 🇺🇸 Mary Bocock (USA) — 2003 — +1.31
- 28th — Bib 38 — 🇫🇷 Camille Cerutti (FRA) — 1998 — +1.47 — Head
- 29th — Bib 47 — 🇺🇸 Tricia Mangan (USA) — 1997 — +1.50 — Head
- 30th — Bib 51 — 🇮🇹 Asja Zenere (ITA) — 1996 — +1.55
What happens next in the downhill globe race?
The downhill standings tightened significantly.
Entering the race, Lindsey Vonn led the discipline standings with 400 points, but the American is out for the remainder of the season after the injury she suffered in the Olympic downhill.
Pirovano’s victory adds 100 points, while Aicher gains 80 and Johnson earns 60.
With another downhill scheduled tomorrow in Val di Fassa and the World Cup Finals still to come, the downhill globe remains wide open.
Top 30 Race Results
Click Images to enlarge
Analysis of the leaders and Other North Americans among the top 30
About the Author: Peter Lange
