Last season she celebrated her first victory there after the accidental death of her father Jeff and shed bitter tears in the finish area. Yesterday, US ski star Mikaela Shiffrin was beaming again in Courchevel. The 26-year-old drove to an unrivaled victory in the giant slalom in front of the Swede Sara Hector and the Swiss Michelle Gisin. Ramona Siebenhofer gave away a possible podium with a gross blunder and was eighth as the best Austrian in the absence of Katharina Liensberger (Corona).
“It’s a very special race here,” remarked Shiffrin after her almost flawless drive. In no other place is the American as successful as in Courchevel. It was her sixth coup at the French luxury resort, her 72nd World Cup victory overall.
She is still missing ten successes on her compatriot Lindsey Vonn, who resigned in 2019 and who leads the “eternal best list” of women with 82 victories. There are still 14 to the Swede Ingemar Stenmark, who is enthroned above all. She now has 14 victories in the giant slalom – like the German ex-top driver and Olympic champion Viktoria Rebensburg.
Because the half-time tenth Sofia Goggia was eliminated in the second round, Shiffrin, like Odermatt, who won the giant slalom by over a second in Alta Badia the day before, is now also leading in the overall World Cup ranking.
After double world champion Liensberger like Lara Gut-Behrami and Alice Robinson had to skip the France races due to a positive corona test, five Austrians made the 30s decision. Styrian Siebenhofer was ninth at half time in the decision for a long time and, given the large time gaps, possibly even on the way to the podium. But then she overlooked a blow in the slope and lost a lot of time.
Today a second giant slalom is on the program in Courchevel (10 a.m. / 1 p.m., live ORF 1).
Source: Nachrichten
