Laura Pirovano can win the downhill crystal globe on Saturday. © Pentaphoto

Pirovano dreams: The crowning achievement of a crazy season?

Pure excitement before the grand women's speed final – and a woman from Trentino right in the thick of it. When the final downhill race takes place on Saturday, it could be a true fairytale for Laura Pirovano.

March 20, 2026

From: det

Until recently, Laura Pirovano boasted a record-breaking statistic. The Trentino native finished in the top 10 of the World Cup 29 times, placing between fourth and sixth on 16 occasions. But "Lolly" never quite made it onto the podium. It's no wonder the 28-year-old was close to despair on more than one occasion.

But then came the races in Val di Fassa at the beginning of March – and that's where Pirovano's breakthrough finally came. Or rather, exploded. Within just a few hours, the Italian skier celebrated a double victory, definitively breaking her previous slump. And it got even better: thanks to her consistent results and the double win, the speed specialist catapulted herself to first place in the downhill standings. Now she can complete her fairytale run in the final race in Kvitfjell.

Emma Aicher could still pose a threat to Pirovano. © ANSA / PONTUS LUNDAHL

Pirovano currently holds 436 points, giving her 28 more points than her fiercest rival, Emma Aicher. Theoretically, Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (351 points) and Cornelia Hütter (344) could still join the Crystal Battle, but everything points to a two-way contest between Pirovano and Aicher. A victory is worth 100 points.

"No matter how it turns out, I'm very happy with my season." Laura Pirovano

“I never thought I’d be fighting for a globe. I’ve been happy with my skiing over the past few years, and now that’s reflected in the results. No matter how it turns out on Saturday, I’m very happy with my season,” said Pirovano.

Nicol Delago strong in training

The big decision comes on Saturday at 12.30:8 PM with the final downhill race. In the dress rehearsal, or training run on Friday, Pirovano and Aicher kept their cards close to their chests. The Italian finished 14th, while the German came in 18th. Marte Monsen posted the fastest time in training, while Nicol Delago from Val Gardena finished fifth, making her the top Italian. Sofia Goggia finished eighth, and Nicol's sister, Nadia Delago, came in 13th.