Podium today / GEPA pictures
Italy’s Laura Pirovano delivered a thrilling victory in the women’s downhill in Val di Fassa today, edging Austria’s Cornelia Huetter by the slimmest of margins at just .01 seconds. The win marks Pirovano’s second victory of the weekend and only the second World Cup triumph of her career. Switzerland’s Corinne Suter rounded out the podium in third place, just .05 seconds behind the winning time in a race where every hundredth counted.
American Breezy Johnson finished just off the podium in fourth place, .64 seconds back, while Germany’s Kira Weidle-Winkelmann skied into fifth, .68 seconds behind Pirovano. The results showcased the depth of the field with five different nations represented in the top five in Val di Fassa today.
Top 5
- 🇮🇹 Laura Pirovano (ITA) — Bib 15 — 1997 — 1:20.91
- 🇦🇹 Cornelia Hütter (AUT) — Bib 11 — 1992 — +0.01
- 🇨🇭Corinne Suter (SUI)- Bib 18- 1994- +0.05
- 🇺🇸 Breezy Johnson (USA) — Bib 6 — 1996 — +0.64
- 🇩🇪 Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (GER) — Bib 14 — 1996 — +0.68
Pirovano Delivers a Hometown Thriller
Italy’s Laura Pirovano delivered a sensational run in front of the home crowd, charging from behind to steal the victory in the final meters. The Italian was in the red and trailing Cornelia Huetter for nearly the entire run, but kept building speed as the course opened toward the finish. Carrying incredible momentum through the closing section, Pirovano found the extra speed exactly where it mattered most, crossing the line .01 seconds into the green to snatch the win.
The result marks a remarkable back-to-back victory on home snow for the Italian, who grew up just down the valley and delivered the performance of her career in front of a passionate Val di Fassa crowd. With the win, Pirovano also moves into the lead of the Downhill World Cup standings, capping a dramatic and emotional day for the local hero.
“I’m really, really tired because the last weeks have been a lot,” Pirovano said. “But to win again here at home is incredible. The crowd pushed me so much in the last part. And I heard that the last one to win back-to-back here was Lara Gut-Behrami, so to do the same is something really special for me.”
Huetter Responds with a Charging Run
After finishing fifth yesterday, Cornelia Huetter responded with a powerful and determined performance to claim second place in Val di Fassa. The Austrian skied with total commitment from the start, pushing hard while remaining composed at the high speeds of the course. Huetter laid down clean, confident arcs on the turning sections and maintained excellent aerodynamics, constantly searching for speed as she rolled her shoulders forward and attacked each section of the track.
In control yet aggressive from top to bottom, she carried strong momentum into the finish and briefly held the lead before being edged by Laura Pirovano by just .01 seconds, another razor thin margin in Val di Fassa. The hundredth decided the race for the second straight day, after Emma Aicher was also beaten by .01 seconds by Pirovano in yesterday’s downhill.
Suter Finds Speed to Claim Third
Corinne Suter delivered a strong response run to claim third place, skiing with far more aggression and confidence than the day before. After finishing eighth yesterday, the Swiss veteran attacked the course from the start, carrying impressive speed through the middle of the track and lighting the board green in the second sector.
As the run unfolded, Suter continued to build momentum and recorded the fastest speed on the bottom section, charging into the finish as the race tightened once again. She ultimately crossed the line just .05 seconds behind Laura Pirovano, securing a well earned podium and a powerful rebound performance.
Did Emma Aicher Let the Downhill Globe Slip Away?
Emma Aicher entered the day with a chance to take control of the Downhill World Cup standings, but the 22 year old could not quite find the run she needed in Val di Fassa. While the German appeared composed in the start and showed little outward sign of nerves, her skiing lacked the usual aggression and precision that has defined her season. Aicher skied smoothly through the upper sections but was slightly more open in her aerodynamic position and appeared to be riding the skis rather than actively attacking the turns.
As the run progressed, she struggled to generate the same pressure on her left ski, particularly in the lower section where the course demands strong, committed turns. A late mistake near the bottom pushed her low on the line and cost valuable speed on a day where every hundredth mattered. Aicher ultimately finished 12th, 1.06 seconds off the winning pace, leaving work to do as the fight for the downhill globe heads toward the final stretch.
Key Takeaways from Val di Fassa Downhill
It was a surprising result for Sofia Goggia, who could not quite find the speed she needed on a track where she typically excels. The Italian skied a beautiful line in the upper section and carried solid speed early, but through the turning sections where she usually shines she appeared to be riding the ski rather than driving powerfully into it. Goggia was clearly searching for a redemption run after finishing 17th yesterday, but ultimately it was not enough as she ended the day in 11th place, another unexpected result for the downhill star.
It was a strong day for the Norwegian team, highlighted by Kajsa Vickhoff Lie, who continues to show her resilience on a course that once brought significant heartbreak. Val di Fassa is the track where she suffered a serious leg injury in the past, but the Norwegian has put in the work through training and racing Europa Cups on this track to return stronger. She skied aggressively at the top and carried strong speed early in the run before losing some momentum in the bottom section. After finishing 9th yesterday, she improved to 7th today, a meaningful result on a hill that once caused so much pain.
Her teammate Marte Monsen also delivered a standout performance. After a crash earlier in the season that kept her from competing at the Olympics, Monsen has been steadily rebuilding confidence. Following an 18th place finish yesterday, she put together a strong run to finish 9th today, placing two Norwegians inside the top 10 and marking a positive day for the team.
Stifel U.S. Ski Team Roundup
Breezy Johnson delivered another strong performance, narrowly missing the podium to finish fourth after Corinne Suter bumped her out of the top three from bib 18. Johnson was slightly low and late in a few turns early in the run and appeared a bit caught off guard by the higher speeds on the course. Through the middle section she found a much stronger race line and began to build momentum. The American skied solidly through the bottom portion, settling into the track and generating strong speed toward the finish. At one point she briefly lost pressure on her outside ski in a turn, but Johnson stayed composed, quickly resetting and linking the next turn smoothly to maintain her speed all the way to the line.
“It was a little bit scrappy and a bit bumpier up there, and I felt a little tight in some spots,” Johnson said. “But I left it all out there and did my best. I think my season has been really consistent, especially with how competitive the field is right now, so I’m happy with that and excited to give everything I have at Finals.”
Jacqueline Wiles was chasing another podium result this season and focused on maintaining a tight aerodynamic position throughout the run. She got slightly twisted off the middle jump but did well to stay balanced and strong on her skis. The American, who finished fourth in the Olympic downhill, skied aggressively but struggled to stay clean through some of the turning sections, which cost her the speed she needed on the lower part of the course. Wiles ultimately finished 15th, 1.14 seconds off the pace.
“It’s a tough race and all the little details matter,” Wiles said. “I was happy with most of my run, but I had a couple of mistakes that were too costly. Overall, though, this season has been a huge step for me and has given me a lot of confidence, and I’m really excited to finish the year strong in Norway.”
It was a milestone day for Isabella Wright, making her 80th World Cup start and delivering a strong response after finishing 35th yesterday. Wright skied a solid top section and looked composed early, but like many athletes on the day she needed to generate more speed on the bottom section where the race was ultimately decided. She came a bit wild off the final jump and was not quite as clean through the final turns, which limited her ability to carry speed all the way to the finish. Still, Wright secured valuable World Cup points with a 20th place finish, a significant improvement from the previous day.
Allison Mollin continued to show encouraging consistency after finishing 13th the day before. She skied a strong top section and looked confident through the turns, but could have gained time by tightening her aerodynamic position in sections where the top athletes carried more speed. In the lower part of the course she was slightly late and low on her line, which cost valuable time on a day where the margins were tight. Still, Mollin delivered another solid performance as she continues to build confidence on the World Cup circuit, finishing 21st, 1.54 seconds off the winning time.
Haley Cutler once again impressed in Val di Fassa. Fully self funded and competing independently without the backing of a national team program, Cutler continues to fight her way into the World Cup points. While the run was not quite as clean as she would have liked, she did a strong job maintaining speed and staying composed on a demanding track. Her effort paid off with a 28th place finish, securing another result inside the top 30.
Competing independently in the speed events on the World Cup is no small task, making Cutler’s ability to consistently battle into the points even more impressive.
Top 30 Stifel U.S. Ski Team results
- 4th — Bib 6 — 🇺🇸 Breezy Johnson (USA) — 1996 — +0.64
- 15th — Bib 8 — 🇺🇸 Jacqueline Wiles (USA) — 1992 — +1.14
- 20th — Bib 23 — 🇺🇸 Isabella Wright (USA) — 1997 — +1.44
- 21st — Bib 22— 🇺🇸 Allison Mollin (USA) — 2004 — +1.54
- 28th — Bib 29 — 🇺🇸 Haley Cutler (USA) — 1997 — +1.94
Skiers starting bib 31 or higher finishing in the top 30
- 18th — Bib 34— 🇨🇭Stefanie Grob (SUI) — 2004 — +1.31
- 22nd — Bib 39 — 🇫🇷 Camille Cerutti (FRA) — 1998 — +1.55
- 25th — Bib 36 —🇮🇹 Sara Thaler — 2004 — +1.63
What Happens Next in the Downhill Globe Race?
The battle for the women’s Downhill World Cup title now heads to the World Cup Finals in Lillehammer, where the final downhill of the season will take place on March 21. After Saturday’s dramatic race, Laura Pirovano (436 points) moves into the lead of the downhill standings following her back-to-back win on home snow. Emma Aicher (416 points) now sits second after a difficult day in Val di Fassa, while Lindsey Vonn (400 points) drops to third in the standings after being sidelined with a significant injury sustained at the Olympics.
Just behind them, Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (351 points) sits fourth, followed closely by Cornelia Huetter (344 points) in fifth. Meanwhile, Sofia Goggia (278 points) has been bumped down to seventh in the standings, effectively ending her chances in the downhill globe race. With only one race remaining, the title fight remains wide open and will be decided on the final downhill run of the season in Norway.
Top 30 Race Results
Click Images to enlarge
Analysis of the leaders and Other North Americans among the top 30
About the Author: Katie Twible
