Mikaela Shiffrin reaffirmed her mastery of night slalom racing on Tuesday, claiming another commanding victory in Flachau and extending one of the most remarkable slalom streaks in alpine skiing history.
The win marked Shiffrin’s sixth career triumph on the Flachau course, her sixth slalom victory of the season, her 70th World Cup slalom win overall, and the 111th slalom podium of her career. She prevailed by 0.41 seconds over teammate Paula Moltzan, pulling clear with decisive speed in the final sectors, just as she had done in the first run.
The result produced a major team milestone for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, with Moltzan securing second place to complete the first American one–two finish since Semmering in 2022, again with the same pairing. Austria’s Katharina Truppe thrilled the home crowd by taking third, delivering a podium performance that carried significant emotional weight in Flachau.
How Shiffrin sealed the win
Starting the second run with a slim 0.19-second advantage, Shiffrin briefly ceded time on a course known for disrupting rhythm with aggressive rollers. Still, she maintained composure and control, describing the run as enjoyable despite its narrow margins. As in the opening run, her strongest skiing came in the final sections, where she extended her lead enough to secure victory, even though her second run ranked only seventh-fastest overall.
Shiffrin emphasized the challenge of maintaining speed and rhythm on the Flachau slope, noting how each roller breaks flow and demands constant adjustment. She also acknowledged the intense atmosphere, as the crowd noise escalated with each skier who crossed the line into the lead before her final run.
Sharing the podium with Moltzan added extra significance to the victory, with Shiffrin calling podium finishes alongside teammates especially meaningful.
Moltzan delivers a statement run
Moltzan produced one of her strongest performances of the season, attacking from the start of the second run and carrying speed cleanly through the middle of the course. She finished ahead of Truppe by nearly a quarter of a second, guaranteeing at least second place with only Shiffrin left to race. The result marked Moltzan’s fourth career World Cup slalom podium.
She described the moment as long overdue and said her primary focus this winter has been closing the gap to Shiffrin. Tuesday’s result, she noted, showed clear progress. Moltzan also highlighted the depth and unpredictability of the women’s slalom field, where podium outcomes can change dramatically from race to race.
Already qualified for the Olympics, Moltzan left Flachau with growing confidence that her first World Cup victory is within reach.
Truppe rises under home pressure
Katharina Truppe delivered exactly what Austrian fans hoped for, claiming her sixth career World Cup slalom podium and her first on home snow. She admitted to heavy nerves at the start of the second run but stayed aggressive after losing time early, committing fully as the course opened up.
When she saw the green light at the finish, the reaction was immediate both for Truppe and the packed stadium. The crowd energy, she said, pushed her to take greater risks, resulting in a podium finish that felt nearly as powerful as a win for the host nation.
Notable second-run performances
Several skiers made significant gains in the final run. Albania’s Lara Colturi posted the fastest second-run time to climb eight positions, while American Nina O’Brien recorded the second-fastest run of the night, charging up ten places to finish 13th matching her best career World Cup slalom result.
O’Brien credited improved conditions and a confident approach in both runs, saying she is beginning to find better rhythm across the technical disciplines. She also pointed to the strength of the U.S. team, drawing inspiration from Shiffrin’s and Moltzan’s performances.
A familiar Flachau script
Shiffrin did not need to dominate every split to win. Instead, she delivered precisely when it mattered most, managing pressure, terrain, and noise with trademark precision. On a night shaped by intensity and fine margins, she once again proved why Flachau remains one of her most defining World Cup venues.
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