Liberation in the night race: Vlhova shines, wins and roars

When Petra Vlhova crossed the finish line, saw the green light flashing and realized that this was victory, there was no stopping her. The Slovakian, who otherwise seemed so cool, shouted everything out of herself. The joy of the triumph in front of this intoxicating backdrop, but also the frustration that had accumulated over the last few weeks. The reigning Olympic slalom champion had raced to the podium seven times, but Vlhova had never been at the top this winter. Something like this wears on the nerves of an athlete of her brand who is used to winning on a regular basis. The spell was broken on Tuesday.

On the difficult slope, which was filled with many transitions, Vlhova was already leading the field in the first run. In the decision, the former overall World Cup winner was the last to leave the starting house, but in the style of a star she kept her nerve confidently. In the end, Vlhova was 43 hundredths of a second faster than the previous leader, Mikaela Shiffrin, who still has to wait for her 83rd World Cup victory. With this triumph, the American would be the sole record holder for victories among women.

Vlhova beams from the top, second place Mikaela Shiffrin on the left, third place Lena Dürr on the right. © APA/afp / JOE KLAMAR

For Vlhova it was the first slalom World Cup triumph in a year and an extremely lucrative one at that: the triumph in Flachau is worth 65.000 euros in prize money, more than any other in the World Cup. The German Lena Dürr came third. Super talent Zrinka Ljutic (the Croatian is only 18 years old) was in third place at halftime, but showed nerves in the decision and was eliminated.

Katharina Liensberger, who was in crisis, also gave a sign of life: the Austrian, who was recently heavily criticized, ended up in 6th place. However, one looked in vain for an Azzurra in the top positions. Marta Rossetti was the only Italian to qualify for the second round and collected some World Cup points in 21st place. The only South Tyrolean at the start, Vera Tschurtschenthaler, was eliminated in the first round.

The women now have a speed weekend ahead of them. On Saturday and Sunday there will be a downhill and a Super-G in St. Anton.

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Liberation in the night race: Vlhova shines, wins and roars

The night slalom in Flachau always guarantees a spectacle. It was no different on Tuesday evening. At the end, an athlete who had not yet fully arrived this season celebrated.

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