Mikaela Shiffrin is about to win her 86th World Cup at the Giant Slalom World Cup in Åre. The American drove in a league of her own in the first round.
Mikaela Shiffrin is in a league of her own. On Friday, March 10, she impressively confirmed what has been certain for several years at the giant slalom in Åre, Sweden: If Shiffrin has a good day, she cannot be beat.
Brignone: needs “best run of my life”
While the other athletes struggled on the complicated course in the first round, Shiffrin flew through the gates with unparalleled ease. “It’s a difficult course, I just pushed like hell, the surface is nice to drive, I’m looking forward to the second round,” said Shiffrin on ZDF. After the first 32 riders, there is more than half a second between the American and the rest of the field.
The Canadian Valérie Grenier (+0.58 seconds) and the Austrian Franziska Gritsch (0.93) came closest to the dominator. Federica Brignone (+1.06) is fourth. “I’d have to have the best run of my life to catch Mikaela,” said Brignone. It will be tight for Lena Dürr with participation in the final run. After 32 drivers, she is in 25th place.
86 World Cup victories: Stenmark’s record is shaking
So only she can prevent her 86th World Cup victory in the second round. With a triumph, she would equal Ingemar Stenmark’s long-term record. Nobody has been able to win more World Cups so far. Shiffrin only broke compatriot Lindsay Vonn’s (82) women’s record earlier this year.
Shiffrin has already secured the large crystal globe for the overall World Cup winner and the small crystal globe for the discipline World Cup in slalom this season. Today she could win the small crystal globe in giant slalom for the second time in her career.