Slovakian Petra Vlhová achieved her first victory in the Alpine Ski World Cup this season. In tonight’s slalom in Flachau, she beat American Mikaela Shiffrin by 43 cents, who was aiming for a record 83rd victory in the elite series. Czech representative Martina Dubovská did not finish the first round, just like in the previous slalom in Zagreb.
Before today’s race, Vlhová had seven podium finishes in this year’s SP in slalom and giant slalom, but victory eluded her. In Flachau she was already the fastest in the first round with seventeen cents ahead of Shiffrin, and in the second round she even increased her lead over the American star.
For the first time in the 2022/23 year, he was able to give an interview on an international broadcast.
“I’m really happy. It’s been a long, long journey to get back here and talk to you. It’s been a fantastic day for me. We worked hard and I’m super happy to win here because it’s special,” said Vlhová, who won for the third time in this Austrian resort.
Shiffrin, who finished second and has yet to break the record of Lindsey Vonn, with whom she shares the all-time women’s record thanks to her 82nd win on Sunday, fell short of her ninth triumph of the season. There are still four victories to the absolute record of the Swede Ingemar Stenmark.
For the second time this season, the German Lena Dürrová took the podium. Today’s third place was also favored by the failure of junior world champion Zrinka Ljutičová from Croatia, who was third after the first round.
The performance of the Czech skier Dubovska ended for the second time in a row already in the first run. While she was eliminated in Zagreb at the first gate, this time she managed a large part of the track. Before the third interval, however, she didn’t score correctly and all hope was lost.
The next World Cup women’s slalom race is scheduled for January 29 in Špindlerův Mlýn.
WC in alpine skiing in Flachau (Austria):
Women – slalom:
1. Vlhová (SR) 1:51.95 (55.90+56.05), 2. Shiffrinová (USA) -0.43 (56.07+56.31), 3. Dürrová (Germany) -0.85 (56.86+55.94), 4. Holdenerová (Switzerland) ) -1.54 (57.14+56.35), 5. Moltzanová (USA) -2.15 (57.79+56, 31), 6. Liensbergerová (Austria) -2.62 (57.75+56.82), …Dubovská (Czech Republic) did not finish the 1st round.
Current slalom standings (after 7 out of 11 races): 1. Shiffrinová 605, 2. Holdenerová 470, 3. Vlhová 460, 4. Swennová-Larssonová (Sweden) 320, 5. Dürrová 255, 6. Buciková (Slovenia) 195, …17. Dubovska 94.
Current SP order (after 19 out of 39 races): 1. Shiffrinová 1195, 2. Vlhová 796, 3. Holdenerová 569, 4. Gutová-Behramiová (Switzerland) 476, 5. Goggiaová 470, 6. Bassinová (both It.) 460, …42. Dubovská (Czech Republic) 94.
