ARE, Sweden —
Federica Brignone continues to keep up her slim likelihood of profitable the Women’s World Cup large slalom title this season.
But Italian skiers do not wish to give it some thought.
On Saturday, Brignone closed the hole on GS rating chief Lara Gut-Behrami to 95 factors with victory within the penultimate race, however he must wait till subsequent week in Saalbach, Austria, to overhaul the Swiss star. Something particular must occur within the upcoming World Cup remaining.
A race win is price 100 factors, so Brignone will solely be acknowledged on this planet if he wins that race and Gatto-Behrami would not end inside the highest 15.
“No, it is an excessive amount of, however that is for present,” Brignone mentioned of regaining the factors lead from the earlier race. “I simply wish to do my finest and simply take pleasure in it like I did immediately. I do not take into consideration the Cup or the rest, I simply ski.”
Brignone received the GS title within the 2019-20 season and likewise received the general championship in the identical season.
On Saturday, the Italian received the race with a blistering second run to stay in rivalry for the self-discipline title.
Brignone wanted to attain not less than 36 factors greater than Gut-Behrami and managed to take action with the assistance of first-run chief Sara Hector.
The Swedish Olympic GS champion completed second, pushing Gut-Behrami into third. The Swiss star would have clinched the title had he completed second. However, Gut-Behrami, who has received 4 occasions this season, continues to be in a great place to intention for the championship subsequent week.
Mikaela Shiffrin missed the race after recovering from a knee harm, however the American star is scheduled to return to racing in Sunday’s slalom.
With Shiffrin not racing for the previous six weeks, Gut-Behrami can also be a robust contender for the general title, with the Swiss standout holding a robust lead within the downhill and super-G standings.
Gut-Behrami, who received the general championship in 2016 and 4 super-G titles, did not wish to take into consideration the finals, the place he might win 4 crystal globes, the normal prize of World Cup ski racing.
“I’m going residence first and it feels nice,” Gut-Behrami mentioned. “I do not like this climate. It’s been darkish on a regular basis for the final two and a half weeks. I’m wanting ahead to some days off at residence earlier than excited about Saalbach.”
The solely occasion Gut-Behrami would not win is slalom, and Shiffrin has a great likelihood of profitable the season title when she returns Sunday. That would equal the eight-turn world file for the American.
On Saturday, Brignone was 1.16 seconds off the lead on the finish of the primary leg. However, with a gutsy all-or-nothing run, the Italian recorded the quickest time on the second run and took his eleventh GS victory in complete.
“The first run I wasn’t actually pleased with my run. I had a extremely dangerous begin and wasn’t assured,” Brignone mentioned. “On my second run, I mentioned to myself, ‘Okay, I’ve to attempt every thing.’ I did my finest and I used to be very grateful and pleased with what I did. I’m.”
Gut-Behrami recorded solely the sixteenth quickest time in his remaining run, dropping him to third place.
“I did not have the fitting really feel on each runs immediately. I am unable to complain in regards to the podium, however the slide wasn’t what I wished,” she mentioned. “Not to make any excuses, however this isn’t my favourite sort of snow, it is somewhat spring-ish. I’ve a great really feel for lots of issues, however I do not like tender snow.”
Hector opened the race beneath mild snow and illuminated by floodlights, with a near-perfect first run on a course he skied “numerous occasions” throughout visits to the native ski fitness center as a junior. He confirmed some slippage.
“It wasn’t that straightforward, however I’m glad I began first,” mentioned Hector. She was aiming for her sixth GS win and the primary since profitable in Jasna, Slovakia in January.
Weather circumstances improved for the second run, however by then the race jury had determined to decrease the beginning gate, decreasing run time by greater than 10 seconds.
Austrian skier Katharina Liensberger suffered a horrible accident on her first run when she slipped via a gate, misplaced her stability, and fell backwards when her helmet hit the snow. Liensberger, the 2021 world slalom champion, remained in place for a minute, however finally received again to his toes.
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