Shiffrin Dominates First Run: Skiing at Another Level in Lienz GS

Shiffrin GEPA /Patrick Steiner

When bib 3 Mikaela Shiffrin left the start, it was immediately apparent that she had spent her holiday improving. Skiing at another level, Shiffrin will take a (+0.63) lead over Sweden’s reigning Olympic GS champion Sara Hector. However, Hector is the only racer to finish within a second of Shiffrin. The Norwegian star Raghild Mowinckel had the third fastest time but (+1.03) behind. Also, the season’s discipline leader, Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami, ends the morning ranked 4th (+1.49).

Shiffrin skies with relentless determination and a level of precision that is unmatched. This morning, she was at her best. A race run is never perfect, but she came close. Although the race results will be determined after she skis last in the afternoon, she will leave the start with a significant advantage. The fastest women behind her are all proven champions and will do their best to unthrone the leader, but it will take a spectacular effort to overcome Shiffrin and climb onto the podium’s top step. But in ski racing, anything is possible.

“I know from the experience that you have to be really aggressive on this hill, but it’s quite challenging with the darkness and quite a lot of terrain,” said Shiffrin, who last won the GS in the Austrian Dolomites in 2019.

“When I came through the finish, I didn’t expect it would be this much ahead, so I’m really happy with that. I’m happy with the skiing. I felt very strong, but I think, maybe, it’s one of those runs; it doesn’t happen that often,” Shiffrin offered.

The Stifel US Ski Team had an excellent first run. All three racers who competed were among the fastest 20 and qualified for the second run. Paula Moltzan ends the morning ranked 13th (+1.89) and bib 30 AJ Hurt continues to show excellence and goes into the afternoon run ranked 16th (+2.17).

Canada’s number-one Valerie Grenier 8th is back (+1.71). However, she is undoubtedly in contention for the podium. Unfortunately, her ACA teammate Cassidy Gray could not ski fast enough to qualify. Also, the rapidly emerging Britt Richardson and Sarah Bennett did not finish.

After the first fifteen had skied, the spread among the 14 finishers was astonishing (+3.22). The course was short but the time differentials were huge. When the first 30 had finished their morning runs, the time spread among the 29 finishers was (+6.15). At the end of the first run, the time differential between the fastest and 30th was (+3.15).

Six racers with bibs higher than 30 qualified for the afternoon finale. The fastest to do so was the Czech Republic’s bib 38 Adriana Jelinkova tied 19th (+2.26). The last to do so was Italy’s bib 46 Lara Della Mea 30th (+3.15).

No natural snow was on the Schlossberg race arena in Lienz, but the artificial snow surface was hard and well-prepared. Although there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, it was fast, hard, and bumpy, a true test of the world’s best.

Top 30 first-run results and analysis fastest three and other qualified North Americans

Analysis of the fastest three and other qualified North Americans