Gut-Behrami benefits from Azzurre's nerves

In a heartbreaking second round in Soldeu (Andorra) for Italian ski fans, Marta Bassino and Federica Brignone failed to turn the excellent starting position into a success. The winner was, as is often the case in this discipline, Lara Gut-Behrami.

10. February 2024

From: do

This season, the entourage of the best female skiers once again stopped in the Pyrenees between Spain and France - and this time too the giant slalom provided a great spectacle. After the first round in Soldeu, the two Azzurre congratulated each other Marta Bassino and Federica Brignone with the fastest split times, But in the second run the rankings were shaken up considerably. Finally, Lara Gut-Behrami celebrated her fourth win of the season in this discipline after a strong comeback from 9th place. Alice Robinson (New Zealand/+0,01 seconds) and AJ Hurt (USA/+0,15) completed the podium.

As the race progressed, a momentum six goals from the finish emerged as a key point. The abused piste took off quite a bit there and presented the final runners with a treacherous blow that had to be solved or avoided. This obstacle was felt by many of the top runners, such as Ragnhild Mowinckel, Zrinka Ljutic and Sara Hector, who lost a lot of time there, while Lara Colturi, for example, flew into the snow at this point.

Federica Brignone was not happy with her second run. © ANSA / Guillaume Horcajuelo

Gut-Behrami also fell into this trap during her strong catch-up up to that point and missed important tenths. It was enough for the interim lead, but the chance of victory and the overall World Cup lead seemed to have evaporated. But then one runner after the other rattled over the moguls in Andorra and none came close to the Swiss woman's time.

Bassino and Brignone were also not up to the demanding route and had to settle for 4th place (Brignone/+0,22) and 6th place (Bassino (+0,32), while the Swiss woman achieved an unexpected victory and the resulting overall World Cup Mikaela Shiffrin was not there after her fall in Cortina and was therefore unable to defend her lead over the Swiss.

Platino holds up well again

The third Azzurra in the group, Elisa Platino from Meran, went into the second round in 23rd place and was hoping for a solid result due to the close gap. The South Tyrolean impressed with a courageous run and took the lead after the first eight runners. In the end, the 25-year-old made up seven places and was happy with 16th place. Her 15th place a few weeks ago in Jasna (Slovakia) remains her best World Cup result.