Mont-Tremblant, Canada – In a thrilling women’s giant slalom showdown at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup on Saturday, New Zealand’s Alice Robinson extended her dominance in the discipline, clinching her second consecutive victory of the 2025-26 season. The 23-year-old skier powered through the challenging “Ice River” course with a blistering first-run time of 1:07.05, holding off a strong field to finish with a combined time of 2:16.32. Her win solidifies her lead in the giant slalom standings, marking her as a formidable force heading into the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Robinson’s triumph came at the expense of early frontrunners, including two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States, who faltered dramatically in her second run. Starting the day in third place after a solid opening descent, Shiffrin struggled to maintain her rhythm on the icy slopes, citing minor errors and unstable lines as the culprits for her drop. “It just didn’t connect like I wanted it to,” Shiffrin admitted post-race, reflecting on the uncharacteristic wobble that saw her cross the line in sixth place with a total time of 2:17.83—1.65 seconds behind Robinson. The result ends a promising start to her GS campaign this season, where she had shown flashes of her pre-injury form despite ongoing recovery from last year’s abdominal setback.
The American star, who boasts a record 22 World Cup giant slalom wins, remains optimistic. “We’ve got more races ahead, and I’m building on this,” she said, emphasizing her focus on refining technique ahead of the Olympic trials. Shiffrin’s dip underscores the razor-thin margins in GS, where even seasoned athletes like her can be undone by a single imperfect turn.
Amid the drama, Germany’s Emma Aicher emerged as the breakout performer, surging to her best-ever World Cup result with a fourth-place finish at +1.51 seconds off the pace. The 20-year-old all-rounder, already a podium threat in slalom earlier this season, attacked the course with fearless aggression, gaining crucial time in the steep middle section. “This feels incredible—my first top-five in GS,” Aicher beamed, dedicating the performance to her coaching team. Her result not only boosts her confidence but also signals Germany’s rising depth in the technical events, following strong showings from teammates like Lena Dürr.
Rounding out the podium were Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutić in second (+0.72) and France’s Clara Direz in third (+1.12), both capitalizing on rivals’ misfortunes. Notably, season-opening GS winner Julia Scheib of Austria skied out early in her first run, handing Robinson an unexpected boost in the standings.
The Mont-Tremblant weekend continues Sunday with another giant slalom, offering Shiffrin a quick chance at redemption and Aicher an opportunity to chase her elusive podium. As the Olympic season heats up, Robinson’s back-to-back triumphs position her as the one to beat, while Shiffrin’s resilience and Aicher’s momentum promise more twists on the road to Milano Cortina.
Full Results (Top 7):
Alice Robinson (NZL) – 2:16.32
Zrinka Ljutić (CRO) – +0.72
Clara Direz (FRA) – +1.12
Emma Aicher (GER) – +1.51
Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) – +1.65
Estelle Alphand (SWE) – +1.94
Sofia Goggia (ITA) – +1.98
