LA THUILE, Italy (AP) — Federica Brignone took a major step toward securing the women’s overall World Cup title by winning Friday’s super-G, building a nearly uncatchable lead in the season standings.
With just four races remaining in the World Cup finals in Sun Valley, Idaho, Brignone now holds a 382-point advantage over her closest competitor, defending champion Lara Gut-Behrami. Since a race victory awards 100 points and Gut-Behrami typically skips slalom, the Swiss skier may have only three races left—insufficient to close the gap.
Brignone, who grew up near the race venue in Italy’s Aosta Valley, was thrilled with the win. “It’s unbelievable, and to do it here at home makes it even more special,” she said. “Winning in La Thuile has been one of my biggest dreams, and I couldn’t end my career without it. I’m incredibly proud.”
A previous overall champion in 2020, Brignone had dethroned five-time winner Mikaela Shiffrin after the American took a break from racing following her father’s passing. Determined to reclaim the title, Brignone said, “This was a childhood dream, and I wanted to achieve it again.”
Narrowest Victory Margin
Friday’s race was fiercely contested, with Brignone narrowly edging out her Italian teammate, Sofia Goggia, by just 0.01 seconds. Goggia had led for most of her run but lost time in the final stretch. France’s Romane Miradoli finished third, just 0.05 seconds behind, marking her first podium in over a year.
Gut-Behrami and her Swiss teammate Corinne Suter shared fourth place, trailing Brignone by 0.35 seconds. While Brignone has all but secured the overall title, the fight for the super-G season crown remains tight. She now leads Gut-Behrami by just five points, with the final race on March 23 set to determine the champion.
A Season of Highs and Lows
Germany’s Emma Aicher, who won Thursday’s super-G, appeared poised for back-to-back victories before skiing out midway through her run while leading by nearly three-tenths of a second.
Meanwhile, Lindsey Vonn was the top American finisher in 13th place. The former four-time overall champion, who returned to racing at 40 after a six-year hiatus, described her comeback season as “a real rollercoaster.”
“Super-G is my best discipline, and I’m skiing well, but I’ve been inconsistent,” Vonn admitted. “I’ve changed my equipment nearly every race, and sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn’t. I just need to find the right balance.”
Despite the challenges, Vonn remains focused on her long-term goal: competing at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics before retiring again. “This year was about securing a good start position for next season. Now, I need training and time,” she said.
Her teammate, Lauren Macuga, the world championship bronze medalist, finished 19th.
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