Skiing, Solden giant: Brignone leads, Shiffrin fifth

The World Cup starts again from Soelden and the first run of the giant slalom on the Rettenbach glacier offers surprises and confirmations. In front of everyone there is a fantastic Federica Brignone, protagonist of a spectacular heat, all on the attack, a masterpiece of technique and aggressiveness. Fede, who already triumphed in Solden in 2015 for her first World Cup victory, left her closest opponent, Sara Hector, in second place. An advantage that could have even been greater if the Italian hadn’t hooked her arm onto a door on the wall. “I went all out, but under control – declared Fede to Rai microphones -. I skied well all summer, it was fun preparation. I’m satisfied with my head, my skiing, my attitude.”

The others

—

The surprise is that the dominator of the specialty (as well as the World Cup) last season, Mikaela Shiffrin. Always in control, the American superstar who has won 7 of the last giant slaloms (in addition to the Olympic gold in Meribel) is fifth, 75/100 behind Brignone, the last of the athletes who finished less than a second behind. In addition to Hector, Petra Vlhova (63/100 from Fede) and Lara Gut (73/100) finished ahead of her. Marta Bassino was in difficulty, finishing 1″25 behind her teammate. “I struggled on the wall – declared Bassino to Rai’s microphones -, it was difficult to find the rhythm again”.

Federica Brignone won the last giant cup on March 20, 2022, at the finals in Meribel. But last year you collected, in addition to the world silver, 3 podiums and 3 fourth places. At 33 years old she has Anita Wachter’s record in her sights, with a success she would become the oldest to win a Giant Cup. The Austrian triumphed in Lienz on 28 December 1999 at 32 years and 319 days.

The other blue ones

—

Asja Zenere on her debut in Solden finished at 3″30, Roberta Melesi at 3″78. Sofia Goggia, who returns to the giant slalom and will have bib no., still has to start. 32, Elena Curtoni (33), Elisa Platino (38). On the day of Lara Colturi’s return to competition, her daughter (her mother is Olympian Daniel Ceccarelli) who chose to compete for Albania (she will be 26) accumulated a delay of over 4″ (4 ” 19).

The second heat is scheduled for 1pm.