Scheib Conquers Kronplatz at Last as Shiffrin Misses Podium and Brignone’s Comeback Steals the

Topic: Scheib Conquers Kronplatz at Last as Shiffrin Misses Podium and Brignone’s Comeback Steals the Show

Austria’s Julia Scheib delivered a defining performance on Tuesday, finally taming the notoriously difficult Erta slope in Kronplatz to secure her fourth women’s giant slalom World Cup victory of the season. Racing in what many competitors described as ideal conditions, the 27-year-old produced two controlled, aggressive runs to underline her dominance in the discipline this winter.

The victory carried special meaning for Scheib, who had previously struggled on the Kronplatz hill, recording three DNFs and one DNQ in past appearances. This time, however, the skier from Styria put those disappointments behind her. Speaking after the race, she admitted the course had been a mental hurdle, but said giving everything on the day finally paid off.

France’s Camille Rast mounted a strong challenge, especially in the second run, to finish second, 0.37 seconds behind Scheib. Swedish star and Olympic champion Sara Hector completed the podium in third, just 0.46 seconds off the winning time. Hector had set the early pace after the first run on a course designed by her coach, but the tight margins ensured the final outcome remained uncertain until the end.

American standout Mikaela Shiffrin narrowly missed out on a podium place, finishing fourth. While the result highlighted her consistency, Shiffrin acknowledged she is still searching for that extra edge in giant slalom this season. She noted that on a demanding slope like Kronplatz, perfection is required to fight for victory, admitting there is still work to do before she can challenge for the top spots again.

Beyond the battle for the podium, one of the most emotional moments of the day came from Italy’s Federica Brignone. Competing in her first World Cup race in nearly 300 days following a serious injury, Brignone finished an impressive sixth. Racing on home snow, she described the experience as overwhelming, saying the reality of being back at the start gate only truly sank in during course inspection.

The intensity of the Erta slope was clear throughout the race, with several skiers failing to complete their runs, including home favourite Sofia Goggia, who exited in the first run. Attention now shifts to Špindlerův Mlýn in Czechia, which will host the final giant slalom before the Olympic Winter Games break later this month.