Mikaela Shiffrin secured another slalom victory to close out the winter season, while Wendy Holdener achieved her best result of the year in Lillehammer.
The Podium:
- 1. Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) 2:07.61 minutes
- 2. Wendy Holdener (SUI) +1.32 seconds
- 3. Emma Aicher (GER) +1.36 seconds
Mikaela Shiffrin capped off a dominant slalom season with another win at the World Cup Finals in Lillehammer, leaving her competitors trailing by at least 1.32 seconds. The American star proved untouchable, showcasing her skill and consistency in the final race of the winter.
Shiffrin finished the slalom winter with nine wins in ten races and 980 of 1000 possible World Cup points in her signature discipline – incredible numbers. The only racer to defeat Shiffrin in slalom this season was Camille Rast, who edged the American by 14 hundredths of a second in Kranjska Gora earlier this year.
In Lillehammer, it was Wendy Holdener who came closest to challenging Shiffrin. The Swiss skier confirmed an upward trend since the Olympic Games, securing her best result of the winter with a second-place finish. This marks Holdener’s third podium of the season, following two previous third-place finishes.
Other Swiss Skiers
- 12. Mélanie Meillard +3.15
- 13. Camille Rast +3.30
- 18. Eliane Christen +3.79
Holdener successfully defended her third place in the discipline standings with her second-place finish in Lillehammer, directly behind Rast. However, Rast struggled with hip pain and didn’t perform to her usual standard, finishing 13th.
Mélanie Meillard was the next best Swiss skier, finishing 12th, while Eliane Christen placed 18th, completing the top 20 for the Swiss team.
The Fight for the Overall World Cup
Emma Aicher of Germany’s third-place finish in the slalom, earning her 60 points, means the battle for the overall World Cup title will be decided on Wednesday. Shiffrin will enter the final race of the season with a comfortable 85-point lead.
For Shiffrin, who celebrated her 110th World Cup victory on Tuesday, it would be her sixth overall title and the first since the 2022/23 season.
What’s Next
The athletes will now need to dig deep and provide it their all in Wednesday’s giant slalom. The first run is scheduled for 9:30 AM, with the final run at 12:30 PM, and will be broadcast live on SRF zwei.
Results
