Sestriere sits in the heart of the mountains in northern Italy about a half hour from the French border. A new venue for many athletes, it marked the first women’s World Cup race at the venue since 2008. The winner, Tessa Worley of France, did not let the new venue faze her, taking the win by 0.15 seconds with a combined time of 2:17.37. Behind her was Italian Sofia Goggia while Switzerland’s Lara Gut rounded out the podium in third place just 0.29 seconds off of the winning time.
Worley is making a strong showing this year after a few tough seasons where she worked to regain her footing following an injury in 2013.
“It feels really awesome,” Worley said about winning two giant slalom races in a row. “It’s great to be able to ski just like you used to do in training and just have to think about pushing really hard in the races and that was clearly the only thing that I needed to think about today because all the girls were fighting very hard. It was a tight race, so I’m happy I won it.”
Worley continues to lead the giant slalom standings with 240 points. Hot on her heels was Goggia, who is having something of a breakout season. The Italian has been on the podium in four of her last five World Cup races, and this finish is her best result ever in giant slalom. She shares the spotlight with her teammates, three of whom joined her in the top 15.
“I’m going to say the same words I have already said in Killington,” she shared. “We are the fastest team in giant slalom on the World Cup.”
When asked about her own future and goals, she said that she does not like to look to the future, but instead to live in the now.
“I’m going to have a glass of champagne in some minutes,” she said with a smile.
Rounding out the podium was Gut, who was not thrilled by her performance.
“The first run was a nightmare,” she said. “I did not ski the way I wanted, always too early in the turn, that wasn’t really skiing. I tried to ski a little more aggressive, tighter lines, but it didn’t really work the way I was hoping. I’m happy to be on the podium. It’s always great to be on the podium, and it’s a good thing that I’m third even if I’m not skiing well.”
The performances in the second run of the top three skiers knocked first-run leader Mikaela Shiffrin off the podium. After winning the first run by 0.01 seconds – the smallest possible margin – one costly error prevented Shiffrin from holding on for a top-three finish once all was said and done. But she was able to salvage a sixth-place result and score critical points on the day, remaining ahead of Gut in third place in the GS standings. The next-best American was Resi Stiegler, who earned her first World Cup giant slalom points in four years with a 28th-place result.
“I was so nervous,” Stiegler shared. “I didn’t think I was going to make it because I was in 24th [after her first run] and kept getting moved back, but I did, and then, I was like ‘Oh my gosh.’ Then, I started thinking too much because I haven’t been the top 30 since 2012.”
Stiegler went on to explain that her second run she got a little loose and ungrounded on the second run, but she’s still happy with the day. Independent American racer Megan McJames did not qualify for a second run.
Other notable performances were made by Switzerland’s Simone Wild (bib 27) and Melanie Meillard (bib 40) who finished in seventh and tenth place, respectively.
Canadian athlete Candace Crawford took a spill, suffered a deep laceration on her upper arm and was transported via helicopter to the hospital in Torino for sutures and will be out for a yet to be determined amount of time.
Women’s racing continues on Sunday with the slalom at Sestriere while the men race at Val d’Isere.
Top 10
- Tessa Worley (FRA) – Rossignol / Rossignol / Rossignol
- Sofia Goggia (ITA) – Atomic / Atomic / Atomic
- Lara Gut (SUI) – Head / Head / Head
- Tina Weirather (LIE) – Atomic / Atomic / Atomic
- Marta Bassino (ITA) – Salomon / Salomon / Salomon
- Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) – Atomic / Atomic / Atomic
- Simone Wild (SUI) – Fischer / Fischer / Fischer
- Stephanie Brunner (AUT) – Head / Head / Head
- Ana Drev (SLO) – Volkl / Dalbello / Marker
- Melanie Meillard (SUI) – Rossignol / Rossignol / Rossignol
Official Results
| Rank | Bib | FIS Code | Name | Year | Nation | Run 1 | Run 2 | Total Time | Diff. | FIS Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 196928 | WORLEY Tessa | 1989 | FRA | 1:08.55 | 1:08.82 | 2:17.37 | 0.00 | |
| 2 | 12 | 298323 | GOGGIA Sofia | 1992 | ITA | 1:08.62 | 1:08.90 | 2:17.52 | +0.15 | 1.07 |
| 3 | 7 | 516138 | GUT Lara | 1991 | SUI | 1:08.55 | 1:09.11 | 2:17.66 | +0.29 | 2.07 |
| 4 | 3 | 355050 | WEIRATHER Tina | 1989 | LIE | 1:08.51 | 1:09.86 | 2:18.37 | +1.00 | 7.13 |
| 5 | 14 | 299276 | BASSINO Marta | 1996 | ITA | 1:09.29 | 1:09.09 | 2:18.38 | +1.01 | 7.21 |
| 6 | 8 | 6535237 | SHIFFRIN Mikaela | 1995 | USA | 1:08.50 | 1:09.91 | 2:18.41 | +1.04 | 7.42 |
| 7 | 27 | 516268 | WILD Simone | 1993 | SUI | 1:08.93 | 1:09.81 | 2:18.74 | +1.37 | 9.77 |
| 8 | 20 | 56217 | BRUNNER Stephanie | 1994 | AUT | 1:09.70 | 1:09.08 | 2:18.78 | +1.41 | 10.06 |
| 9 | 6 | 565268 | DREV Ana | 1985 | SLO | 1:09.19 | 1:09.84 | 2:19.03 | +1.66 | 11.84 |
| 10 | 40 | 516528 | MEILLARD Melanie | 1998 | SUI | 1:10.10 | 1:08.94 | 2:19.04 | +1.67 | 11.91 |
| 11 | 28 | 56315 | TRUPPE Katharina | 1996 | AUT | 1:09.80 | 1:09.38 | 2:19.18 | +1.81 | 12.91 |
| 12 | 13 | 505760 | PIETILAE-HOLMNER Maria | 1986 | SWE | 1:09.38 | 1:09.84 | 2:19.22 | +1.85 | 13.20 |
| 13 | 29 | 197124 | FRASSE SOMBET Coralie | 1991 | FRA | 1:10.26 | 1:09.06 | 2:19.32 | +1.95 | 13.91 |
| 14 | 11 | 296259 | MOELGG Manuela | 1983 | ITA | 1:10.04 | 1:09.36 | 2:19.40 | +2.03 | 14.48 |
| 15 | 23 | 297702 | MARSAGLIA Francesca | 1990 | ITA | 1:09.52 | 1:10.00 | 2:19.52 | +2.15 | 15.34 |
| 16 | 45 | 56032 | SCHILD Bernadette | 1990 | AUT | 1:09.97 | 1:09.58 | 2:19.55 | +2.18 | 15.55 |
| 17 | 17 | 296729 | FANCHINI Nadia | 1986 | ITA | 1:09.47 | 1:10.11 | 2:19.58 | +2.21 | 15.77 |
| 18 | 9 | 55759 | KIRCHGASSER Michaela | 1985 | AUT | 1:10.08 | 1:09.53 | 2:19.61 | +2.24 | 15.98 |
| 19 | 22 | 197319 | BAUD MUGNIER Adeline | 1992 | FRA | 1:09.76 | 1:09.88 | 2:19.64 | +2.27 | 16.19 |
| 20 | 18 | 516280 | HOLDENER Wendy | 1993 | SUI | 1:09.43 | 1:10.42 | 2:19.85 | +2.48 | 17.69 |
| 21 | 16 | 105269 | GAGNON Marie-Michele | 1989 | CAN | 1:09.98 | 1:10.01 | 2:19.99 | +2.62 | 18.69 |
| 22 | 26 | 705423 | VLHOVA Petra | 1995 | SVK | 1:09.86 | 1:10.21 | 2:20.07 | +2.70 | 19.26 |
| 23 | 1 | 205218 | REBENSBURG Viktoria | 1989 | GER | 1:10.01 | 1:10.28 | 2:20.29 | +2.92 | 20.83 |
| 24 | 10 | 196725 | BARIOZ Taina | 1988 | FRA | 1:09.98 | 1:10.38 | 2:20.36 | +2.99 | 21.33 |
| 25 | 37 | 565373 | ROBNIK Tina | 1991 | SLO | 1:10.38 | 1:10.17 | 2:20.55 | +3.18 | 22.69 |
| 26 | 21 | 296509 | CURTONI Irene | 1985 | ITA | 1:09.57 | 1:11.00 | 2:20.57 | +3.20 | 22.83 |
| 27 | 25 | 297910 | CURTONI Elena | 1991 | ITA | 1:10.68 | 1:09.95 | 2:20.63 | +3.26 | 23.26 |
| 28 | 34 | 537772 | STIEGLER Resi | 1985 | USA | 1:10.58 | 1:10.10 | 2:20.68 | +3.31 | 23.61 |
| 29 | 33 | 565331 | LAVTAR Katarina | 1988 | SLO | 1:10.59 | 1:10.78 | 2:21.37 | +4.00 | 28.54 |
| 30 | 19 | 505886 | KLING Kajsa | 1988 | SWE | 1:10.61 | 1:11.07 | 2:21.68 | +4.31 | 30.75 |
| Did not qualify for 2nd run | ||||||||||
| 62 | 35089 | SIMARI BIRKNER Macarena | 1984 | ARG | ||||||
| 61 | 506341 | WIKSTROEM Emelie | 1992 | SWE | ||||||
| 60 | 298124 | AGNELLI Nicole | 1992 | ITA | ||||||
| 59 | 35079 | SIMARI BIRKNER Maria Belen | 1982 | ARG | ||||||
| 58 | 315187 | IGNJATOVIC Nevena | 1990 | SRB | ||||||
| 56 | 435334 | GASIENICA-DANIEL Maryna | 1994 | POL | ||||||
| 55 | 516284 | GISIN Michelle | 1993 | SUI | ||||||
| 54 | 56328 | ORTLIEB Nina | 1996 | AUT | ||||||
| 53 | 425981 | SKJOELD Maren | 1993 | NOR | ||||||
| 52 | 565401 | BUCIK Ana | 1993 | SLO | ||||||
| 51 | 485926 | KRYUKOVA Kristina | 1997 | RUS | ||||||
| 49 | 206487 | WIESLER Maren | 1993 | GER | ||||||
| 48 | 56199 | KAPPAURER Elisabeth | 1994 | AUT | ||||||
| 47 | 197651 | DIREZ Clara | 1995 | FRA | ||||||
| 46 | 405138 | JELINKOVA Adriana | 1995 | NED | ||||||
| 43 | 56241 | SCHNEEBERGER Rosina | 1994 | AUT | ||||||
| 41 | 206355 | DUERR Lena | 1991 | GER | ||||||
| 38 | 485731 | ROMANOVA Anastasia | 1993 | RUS | ||||||
| 36 | 225525 | TILLEY Alexandra | 1993 | GBR | ||||||
| 32 | 538284 | MCJAMES Megan | 1987 | USA | ||||||
| 31 | 306249 | HASEGAWA Emi | 1986 | JPN | ||||||
| 30 | 196726 | BARTHET Anne-Sophie | 1988 | FRA | ||||||
| 15 | 505679 | HANSDOTTER Frida | 1985 | SWE | ||||||
| Did not finish 1st run | ||||||||||
| 57 | 106961 | MIELZYNSKI Erin | 1990 | CAN | ||||||
| 50 | 155699 | PAULATHOVA Katerina | 1993 | CZE | ||||||
| 44 | 516407 | KASPER Vanessa | 1996 | SUI | ||||||
| 42 | 516504 | DANIOTH Aline | 1998 | SUI | ||||||
| 39 | 107613 | GRENIER Valerie | 1996 | CAN | ||||||
| 35 | 107387 | CRAWFORD Candace | 1994 | CAN | ||||||
| 24 | 425929 | MOWINCKEL Ragnhild | 1992 | NOR | ||||||
| 4 | 297601 | BRIGNONE Federica | 1990 | ITA | ||||||
| 2 | 425771 | LOESETH Nina | 1989 | NOR | ||||||
About the Author: Gabbi Hall
