At the season finale in the giant slalom, Lara Gut-Behrami celebrated a start-finish victory. Federica Brignone was able to look forward to her third crystal ball of the winter.
The Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami had already set the best time in Sun Valley (USA) at the season finale in the giant slalom on Tuesday (25.03.2025) in Sun Valley (USA). In the final, she no longer took the lead and raced to the third win of the season. The second was the Italian Federica Brignone, which also secured the small crystal ball in the giant slalom. Third was Sara Hector from Sweden.
For Brignone it is the third overall victory this season. She already won the overall World Cup and also won the crystal ball in the departure.
Gut-Behrami too fast for everyone else
After winning the Super-G on Sunday, Gut-Behrami was also the measure of all things at the giant slalom final. She went into the second round with almost half a second ahead of Brignone. And there she also delivered and underlined her top shape. It is the third victory for the Swiss this season.
For Brignone, things were initially different than planned. She didn’t get a good first round. Especially in the final part, too many small mistakes made her. She showed much better in the second run. She risked less, but drove confidently.
Duel between Robinson and Brignone
In the first round, everything concentrated on the duel between Alice Robinson and Brignone. Because with 20 points ahead of the Italian, the New Zealander was in the fight for overall victory.
But it quickly became clear that Robinson could only contest the crystal ball. The New Zealander caught a more than unfavorable initial situation. She was whistled back shortly before the start. Because Paula Moltzan ensured a frightened second. The local hero lost a stick at the first goals, but kept in the race. Shortly before the finish, she passed a serious mistake, she slipped away and fell. A little later, however, she could leave the slopes alone.
Tears at Robinson
After the interruption, Robinson started. But the New Zealander looked too unconcentrated, made too many mistakes and hardly gained speed. The 23-year-old finally fell and retired. As a result, in the fight for the small crystal ball, she could only look at Brignone without intervene. At the finish she no longer held back her tears. A New Zealander has never managed to win a crystal ball.
In the second round, Brignone now needed at least the required 20 points to catch up with Robinson. A 13th place would have already reached for this. At the same point, the Italian would have had the advantage of Robinson. She won five World Cups this season. The New Zealander only one.
Dürr 17. – Aicher is leaving
The icy slopes in Sun Valley had its difficulties. Again and again the drivers were almost and left out in turn. Lena Dürr and Emma Aicher also had to struggle with the slopes, beat themselves well in the first round, but had big problems in the second. Aicher left shortly after the start when she did not make a goal. Dürr also made the same serious mistake. Although she was able to end the race, she was significantly cut off. After all: as 17th she still collected World Cup points.