Julia Scheib delivered a masterclass on the unforgiving Erta slope in Kronplatz today, storming to victory in the women’s giant slalom and securing her 4th career World Cup win — and her season’s standout performance yet!
The 27-year-old Austrian (bib 2) attacked the steep, technical beast with precision and power, posting the fastest combined time over two runs to edge out a stacked field. This triumph on January 20, 2026, solidifies her as the dominant force in giant slalom this season, where she’s already claimed multiple podiums and leads the discipline standings with commanding points (460+ after recent races).
The podium was pure drama:
🥈 Camille Rast (SUI) +0.37 — The Swiss slalom-to-GS crossover star keeps closing gaps, proving she’s a multi-discipline threat heading into Milano Cortina.
🥉 Sara Hector (SWE) +0.46 — The Olympic GS champion fought hard after leading early in the first run, adding another strong result to her medal collection.
What a day for Scheib! Fresh off her three prior GS victories this season (including home wins in Sölden and Semmering, plus Tremblant), she navigated perfect bluebird conditions and a demanding course that punished any mistake. Her flawless execution — aggressive lines, impeccable timing, and zero hesitation on the 61% max gradient sections — left the competition chasing shadows.
This win comes at the perfect time: With the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics just weeks away (opening Feb 6, women’s GS on Feb 15 in Cortina), Scheib is peaking as a serious gold contender. She’s been the most consistent in the discipline, outpacing threats like Alice Robinson (who’s struggled with DNFs) and keeping pressure on the field.
The race had extra spice: Federica Brignone’s emotional comeback added Italian fire, Mikaela Shiffrin pushed in GS mode (after her slalom dominance), and Paula Moltzan brought Team USA depth. But today belonged to Scheib — her “amazing performance” turned the Erta into her personal playground.
Is this the form that carries Austria to Olympic glory on home-ish soil? Or will Rast, Hector, or a surging rival flip the script in Cortina?
Epic racing, stunning Dolomites views, and non-stop drama — that’s why we love alpine skiing! Who’s your pick for Olympic GS gold? Scheib unstoppable? Rast rising? Drop your predictions, fire emojis for the winner, and tag your ski squad! 🔥🇦🇹🇨🇭🇸🇪
