Austrian skier Julia Scheib is dominating the field in giant slalom as she prepares for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Fellow racer Federica Brignone, the defending overall World Cup champion, has made a strong comeback after a lengthy injury hiatus. Meanwhile, Mikaela Shiffrin is steadily improving her performance in giant slalom.
Scheib secured her fourth giant slalom win of the season, showcasing a remarkable performance by moving up from third place in the initial run to clinch victory with a time of 2 minutes 19.85 seconds. Camille Rast followed closely behind in second place with a time of 2:20.22, and defending Olympic champion Sara Hector finished third with a time of 2:20.31. Shiffrin claimed the fourth spot in 2:20.71, while Brignone placed sixth with a time of 2:21.08.
Reflecting on her return to competition, Brignone expressed her joy at overcoming the challenges of the past nine months, emphasizing the emotional significance of her performance. Canadian skier Val Grenier achieved a commendable ninth-place finish with a time of 2:22.09, while Britt Richardson from Canmore, Alta., secured the 11th position with a time of 2:22.50.
Julia Scheib, aged 27, who had never previously won a World Cup race, now leads the giant slalom discipline standings with a substantial lead of 139 points over Rast.
Despite her unparalleled success in World Cup races, Shiffrin has not stood on the giant slalom podium for two years following a crash in Killington, Vt., in November 2024. Brignone, who made a remarkable comeback after sustaining severe leg injuries, expressed her apprehensions and triumphs during the race.
Looking ahead, Brignone plans to skip the upcoming technical races in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic, opting for speed training in Cortina d’Ampezzo in preparation for the Olympics. The Italian skier aims to represent her country at the forthcoming Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo on February 6.
In other developments, Sofia Goggia faced a setback as she failed to complete her first run, while Scheib’s consistent performance positions her as a formidable contender heading into the Winter Olympics.