*Brignone Dominates Again in World Cup Giant Slalom, While Shiffrin’s Struggles Continue*
Federica Brignone continued her relentless pursuit of giant slalom excellence, taking the lead in the first run of the World Cup giant slalom on Saturday. Meanwhile, Mikaela Shiffrin’s struggles to regain her form after a serious crash in November persisted, as she failed to finish the first run.
Brignone, who is racing towards a second overall World Cup title at the age of 34, made the most of her No. 1 start bib, finishing 0.34 seconds ahead of her Italian teammate Sofia Goggia. Goggia, a former Olympic champion in downhill, has not finished on the podium of a giant slalom race in seven years.
Thea Louise Stjernesund trailed Brignone by 0.36 seconds, setting up an exciting afternoon run. Brignone has been unstoppable in giant slalom races this season, winning every event she has completed, including a world championships gold medal last month. Her only blemishes have been three World Cup races where she failed to finish.
Shiffrin, on the other hand, is still searching for her form after a devastating crash in November. She skied out wide after taking too much speed into a right-hand turn, failing to finish the first run. As one of the most dominant skiers in the world, Shiffrin’s struggles have been a major storyline this season.
Brignone’s dominance in giant slalom has been a hallmark of her successful season, and she will look to continue her winning ways in the afternoon run. With her sights set on a second overall World Cup title, Brignone is showing no signs of slowing down.
As the World Cup season heats up, the giant slalom competition is shaping up to be a thrilling affair. With Brignone leading the charge, the rest of the field will be looking to close the gap and challenge her dominance. Meanwhile, Shiffrin will aim to regroup and refocus, hoping to regain her form and contend for the podium in future events.
