The Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami, already winner of the opening giant in Sölden (Austria) at the end of October, followed up with success during the giant Alpine Ski World Cup in Killington (United States) on Saturday.
Imperial in the second round (3rd time) after having been very close to the lead in the first round, Gut-Behrami created the gaps to win in front of the New Zealander Alice Robinson (at 62/100), who had been the fastest in the first round, and the American star Mikaela Shiffrin (at 81/100).
“I have giant confidence at the moment, I always try to improve, to find motivation,” commented the winner. At 32 years old, Gut-Behrami, world champion in the specialty in 2021, has displayed remarkable longevity since her World Cup debut almost 16 years ago, and since her first victory in December 2008.
She won the 39th victory of her career on the world circuit on Saturday, and is positioned in 7th place in the ranking of the best skiers in history, chasing the Swede Anja Pärson (42 successes) and the Austrian Renate Götschl (46). Also a specialist in super-G, of which she is Olympic champion, and in downhill, Gut-Behrami could be a rival for the American Mikaela Shiffrin in the general classification of the World Cup, which she won in 2016.
Shiffrin is, however, already leading the general standings after four races, with 250 points, compared to 200 for the Swiss. After a 6th place on the opening giant of Sölden, Shiffrin returned to the podium in the discipline to the delight of her noisy American fans. Shiffrin had meanwhile scored a record 89th victory in the second slalom in Levi (Finland) two weeks ago.
Second, Alice Robinson reached her first podium since March 2021, after two difficult seasons following her early emergence (victory in Sölden in 2019 at 17). Swedish Olympic champion Sara Hector finished 4th (at 1 sec 06), while Italian Marta Bassino fell in the second round. The skiers continue with a slalom on Sunday in the Vermont resort.