Julia Scheib dominated the Women’s Giant Slalom at Semmering, claiming victory with a masterful second run, while Camille Rast and Sara Hector rounded out the podium. Standout performances from Nina Astner, Maryna Gasienica-Daniel, and North American skiers like Valérie Grenier and Mikaela Shiffrin highlighted an exciting, bumpy race ahead of the next stop in Kranjska Gora.
With Germany’s Lena Dürr leading the race, all eyes turned to 20-year-old Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutic, the fastest skier from the first run, to decide the winner. Benefiting from her father setting the first run course, Ljutic entered the second run with a 0.51-second advantage over Dürr. Despite Dürr’s impressive second run, which included a significant mistake, Ljutic extended her lead to 1.75 seconds, clinching her first World Cup victory. The win was historic, marking the first time in 22 years that a Croatian woman claimed a World Cup victory, following in the footsteps of skiing legend Janica Kostelić. Ljutic, who had previously earned three slalom podiums, finally stood atop the podium in a breakthrough moment for her career.
Zrinka Ljutic holds a commanding lead after the first run of the Semmering slalom, with Germany’s Lena Dürr and Switzerland’s Camille Rast in pursuit. North Americans Amelia Smart and AJ Hurt aim to climb the ranks in an exciting afternoon finale.
The Women’s GS in Semmering delivered thrilling drama, with Federica Brignone securing her 14th World Cup GS victory and extending her record as the oldest winner. Sara Hector and Alice Robinson joined her on the podium, each earning their second GS podium of the season. North Americans impressed, led by Valerie Grenier in 4th and Paula Moltzan in 5th, showcasing depth and determination.
Federica Brignone led a tight field after the first run of the Semmering GS, holding a slim 0.15-second lead over reigning World Cup GS champion Lara Gut-Behrami. Olympic champion Sara Hector followed in third, just 0.24 seconds back. North American skiers impressed, with Paula Moltzan in fourth and Valerie Grenier in fifth, while seven skiers from the region qualified for the afternoon finale. The diverse field featured standout performances from 11 countries, setting the stage for an exciting second run.
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