After sharing the top of the podium with Anna Swenn Larsson in the previous Slalom race in Killington, Wendy Holdener won today in Sestriere her second race in the discipline. It is her third podium of the season after finishing in second position in the second Slalom held in Levi. She is the first Swiss female skier to win back-to-back World Cup slalom events since Vreni Schneider in 1994 (six in a row). It's her 47 career World Cup podium, 32nd in the discipline.
The 29-year-old Swiss layed the foundation for her second World Cup victory in two strong and aggressive runs, setting the second best time in both runs. She beat Mikaela Shiffrin by +0.47sec, and Petra Vlhova, who had set the fastest time on the first run, by +0.70sec.
“It is amazing. I can believe it, but it is unreal I guess. I knew from the start that Mikaela Shiffrin was in the lead. So I had to give everything. It's crazy. My second run was the best run I showed in a race actually”, said Holdener.
Mikaela Shiffrin second place makes her 123 podium in the World Cup.
“I am quite exhausted. I think I had some really good turns and some things to fix for the next slalom. It is a step from Killington and a step in the right direction. It was two really difficult days, there was some really impressive skiing from Wendy and Petra this weekend. Today I am mostly happy with my performance but not completely satisfied”, said Shiffrin.
Petra Vlhova finished in third place. Since the beginning of last season, Vlhová finished in the top four in all 13 women's World Cup Slalom events, including 11 podium finishes (three more than any other woman in this period). Today's podium is her 61st in the World Cup.
“I am happy because I am consistent, and it is not so easy to fight for podium, but I am always fighting. Yesterday and today, I was in first position after the first run but then I had a few little mistakes to get third place. But I am happy”, said Vlhova.
Mikaela Shiffrin and Wendy Holdener share the lead in the Slalom standings with 325 points. Petra Vlhová is in third place with 230 points.
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