Shiffrin wins alpine combined, Stuhec locks up discipline globe
CRANS MONTANA, Switzerland–Spring conditions continued on Sunday in Crans Montana, Switzerland, and they reminded the day’s alpine combined winner, Mikaela Shiffrin, of warm weather skiing back home in the United States. Perhaps this is one the reasons why she was able to take her first win ever in the discipline with a total time of 2:07.16.
In true Shiffrin style, she powered down the slalom run, making up time after her seventh-place super-G run in the morning. Her quick feet put her 0.70 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Federica Brignone of Italy and 0.85 seconds ahead of third-place finisher Ilka Stuhec of Slovenia in the final alpine combined of the season.
“It feels great,” the American shared. “I was really psyched with my super-G this morning. I took a really big step forward from yesterday, and I was happy with that. Of course, the slalom was great. I mean I made a little mistake at the top, but I was attacking, so I don’t think it cost too much. I’m happy to go into the U.S. races with the overall lead.”
Shiffrin leads the overall standings with 1323 points, 298 points ahead of Stuhec, who now sits in second place.
“As for my overall lead, I think Ilka’s going to put up a really good fight,” Shiffrin said. “So, I’m certainly not losing focus.”
Because this was Shiffrin’s only alpine combined start this season, she was not in contention for the alpine combined World Cup globe. With her third-place result, Stuhec was able to secure the discipline globe, the first of her career, which the Slovenian called “amazing.”
“I can’t believe it really because it’s something I’ve always dreamed of and now that it’s hear it’s just, ‘Woah,’” she shared.
Sandwiched between the Slovenian and American on Sunday’s podium was Brignone, who ends the season in second place in the discipline standings in part thanks to her victory on Friday. The win gave her the motivation she needed to podium again on the challenging Mont Lachaux slope.
“That slalom gave me a really a good confidence, but I wanted to do it more and again today because it was not easy,” Brignone said. “The slalom is really tough and yeah, I wanted to do it again. I’m really happy.”
The Italian seems to have found her rhythm in slalom, and she has some guesses as to why it’s all coming together–and it wasn’t the snow.
“Actually, normally I love the ice, so I really don’t know in slalom,” she said. “I’m feeling good, and I like this slope and the track and how it was set, so I think that’s all and I’m in shape.”
Just off the podium was the top Canadian athlete, Marie Michele Gagnon of Canada. She was just 0.04 seconds away from third place, earning her best result of the season. Gagnon was joined in the top 15 by teammate Candace Crawford in 15th place, her best result of the 2016-17 season so far. Canadian athletes Valerie Grenier and Mikaela Tommy did not finish the super-G.
For the U.S. Ski Team, Stacey Cook was the lone finisher aside from Shiffrin, earning 23rd place. Laurenne Ross and Jacqueline Wiles did not finish.
Now, many of the athletes are rushing off to the airport to catch flights to South Korea, where they will race and train at the 2018 Olympic venues.
“We’re flying out tonight,” Shiffrin shared. “But I’m not going to race in the speed events. I’m going to try to see the speed hill, get on the tech venue a little bit and then, go to the U.S.”
The World Cup downhill and super-G races in Jeongseon, South Korea take place on Feb. 4-5.
Top 10
- Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) – Atomic / Atomic / Atomic
- Federica Brignone (ITA) – Rossignol / Look / Rossignol
- Ilka Stuhec (SLO) – Stoeckli / Lange /Atomic
- Marie-Michele Gagnon (CAN) – Rossignol / Look / Rossignol
- Ricarda Haaser (AUT) – Fischer / Fischer / Fischer
- Wendy Holdener (SUI) – Head / Head / Head
- Raghnild Mowinckel (NOR) – Head / Head / Head
- Sofia Goggia (ITA) – Atomic / Atomic / Atomic
- Marta Bassino (ITA) – Salomon / Salomon / Salomon
- Maria Therese Tviberg (NOR) – Head / Head / Head
Official Results
1 | 31 | 6535237 | SHIFFRIN Mikaela | 1995 | USA | 1:21.99 | 45.17 | 2:07.16 | 0.00 | 100.00 | |
2 | 9 | 297601 | BRIGNONE Federica | 1990 | ITA | 1:22.34 | 45.52 | 2:07.86 | +0.70 | 6.33 | 80.00 |
3 | 3 | 565360 | STUHEC Ilka | 1990 | SLO | 1:21.05 | 46.96 | 2:08.01 | +0.85 | 7.69 | 60.00 |
4 | 11 | 105269 | GAGNON Marie-Michele | 1989 | CAN | 1:21.27 | 46.78 | 2:08.05 | +0.89 | 8.05 | 50.00 |
5 | 6 | 56174 | HAASER Ricarda | 1993 | AUT | 1:21.63 | 46.98 | 2:08.61 | +1.45 | 13.11 | 45.00 |
6 | 7 | 516280 | HOLDENER Wendy | 1993 | SUI | 1:22.72 | 45.98 | 2:08.70 | +1.54 | 13.93 | 40.00 |
7 | 17 | 425929 | MOWINCKEL Ragnhild | 1992 | NOR | 1:21.46 | 47.47 | 2:08.93 | +1.77 | 16.01 | 36.00 |
8 | 19 | 298323 | GOGGIA Sofia | 1992 | ITA | 1:20.69 | 48.36 | 2:09.05 | +1.89 | 17.09 | 32.00 |
9 | 35 | 299276 | BASSINO Marta | 1996 | ITA | 1:22.11 | 47.05 | 2:09.16 | +2.00 | 18.09 | 29.00 |
10 | 8 | 426043 | TVIBERG Maria Therese | 1994 | NOR | 1:22.65 | 46.74 | 2:09.39 | +2.23 | 20.17 | 26.00 |
11 | 13 | 516284 | GISIN Michelle | 1993 | SUI | 1:23.44 | 45.99 | 2:09.43 | +2.27 | 20.53 | 24.00 |
12 | 4 | 56241 | SCHNEEBERGER Rosina | 1994 | AUT | 1:22.85 | 46.83 | 2:09.68 | +2.52 | 22.79 | 22.00 |
13 | 29 | 56199 | KAPPAURER Elisabeth | 1994 | AUT | 1:23.17 | 46.74 | 2:09.91 | +2.75 | 24.87 | 20.00 |
14 | 32 | 206532 | SCHMOTZ Marlene | 1994 | GER | 1:23.59 | 47.18 | 2:10.77 | +3.61 | 32.65 | 18.00 |
15 | 38 | 107387 | CRAWFORD Candace | 1994 | CAN | 1:24.22 | 46.66 | 2:10.88 | +3.72 | 33.64 | 16.00 |
16 | 27 | 516344 | KOPP Rahel | 1994 | SUI | 1:23.77 | 47.14 | 2:10.91 | +3.75 | 33.91 | 15.00 |
17 | 30 | 385096 | POPOVIC Leona | 1997 | CRO | 1:23.99 | 47.04 | 2:11.03 | +3.87 | 35.00 | 14.00 |
18 | 20 | 56087 | SIEBENHOFER Ramona | 1991 | AUT | 1:23.54 | 48.06 | 2:11.60 | +4.44 | 40.15 | 13.00 |
19 | 39 | 516394 | SUTER Jasmina | 1995 | SUI | 1:23.30 | 48.34 | 2:11.64 | +4.48 | 40.52 | 12.00 |
20 | 33 | 155699 | PAULATHOVA Katerina | 1993 | CZE | 1:24.34 | 47.43 | 2:11.77 | +4.61 | 41.69 | 11.00 |
21 | 26 | 299466 | DELAGO Nicol | 1996 | ITA | 1:23.52 | 48.38 | 2:11.90 | +4.74 | 42.87 | 10.00 |
22 | 22 | 206520 | DORSCH Patrizia | 1994 | GER | 1:23.73 | 48.40 | 2:12.13 | +4.97 | 44.95 | 9.00 |
23 | 41 | 537582 | COOK Stacey | 1984 | USA | 1:23.01 | 49.49 | 2:12.50 | +5.34 | 48.29 | 8.00 |
24 | 46 | 705394 | KANTOROVA Barbara | 1992 | SVK | 1:24.88 | 48.82 | 2:13.70 | +6.54 | 59.15 | 7.00 |
25 | 18 | 56177 | VENIER Stephanie | 1993 | AUT | 1:21.32 | 52.87 | 2:14.19 | +7.03 | 63.58 | 6.00 |
26 | 45 | 155503 | KLICNAROVA Pavla | 1988 | CZE | 1:24.70 | 50.66 | 2:15.36 | +8.20 | 74.16 | 5.00 |
Did not start 1st run | |||||||||||
48 | 56088 | TIPPLER Tamara | 1991 | AUT | |||||||
Did not finish 2nd run | |||||||||||
28 | 206355 | DUERR Lena | 1991 | GER | |||||||
21 | 516219 | NUFER Priska | 1992 | SUI | |||||||
14 | 538573 | ROSS Laurenne | 1988 | USA | |||||||
10 | 297910 | CURTONI Elena | 1991 | ITA | |||||||
Did not finish 1st run | |||||||||||
47 | 35089 | SIMARI BIRKNER Macarena | 1984 | ARG | |||||||
44 | 107532 | TOMMY Mikaela | 1995 | CAN | |||||||
43 | 435334 | GASIENICA-DANIEL Maryna | 1994 | POL | |||||||
42 | 375018 | COLETTI Alexandra | 1983 | MON | |||||||
40 | 539536 | WILES Jacqueline | 1992 | USA | |||||||
37 | 485749 | PROKOPYEVA Aleksandra | 1994 | RUS | |||||||
36 | 56328 | ORTLIEB Nina | 1996 | AUT | |||||||
34 | 206460 | WENIG Michaela | 1992 | GER | |||||||
25 | 298767 | SOSIO Federica | 1994 | ITA | |||||||
24 | 107613 | GRENIER Valerie | 1996 | CAN | |||||||
23 | 197497 | MIRADOLI Romane | 1994 | FRA | |||||||
16 | 56217 | BRUNNER Stephanie | 1994 | AUT | |||||||
15 | 196726 | BARTHET Anne-Sophie | 1988 | FRA | |||||||
12 | 297702 | MARSAGLIA Francesca | 1990 | ITA | |||||||
5 | 55759 | KIRCHGASSER Michaela | 1985 | AUT | |||||||
2 | 56198 | SCHEYER Christine | 1994 | AUT | |||||||
1 | 565320 | FERK Marusa | 1988 | SLO |