RTL in Killington

Women’s giant slalom in Killington, LIVE from 4 pm

Mikaela Shiffrin crashes, Sara Hector wins

(Bild: GEPA pictures, ORF Screenshot)

What a dramatic end to the women's giant slalom in Killington: Mikaela Shiffrin missed her first chance at her 100th career triumph - with a heavy fall on the finish slope, after which she was taken away in the Akia! The race victory in the US state of Vermont therefore went to Sweden's Sara Hector, who came out on top ahead of Croatia's Zrinka Ljutic (+0.54 sec.) and Camille Rast (+1.05) from Switzerland.

Shiffrin had been leading on the US East Coast after the first run and the time was still just green when she dropped out. After a slip on the inside of her skis, she caught the next gate. While Shiffrin was still being treated on the piste, the award ceremony at the finish line was a bit frothy.

Shiffrin's bad fall in pictures:

(Bild: ORF Screenshot)

(Bild: ORF Screenshot)

(Bild: ORF Screenshot)

(Bild: ORF Screenshot)

(Bild: ORF Screenshot)

"It breaks my heart and everyone's heart here!"
"I had a little phase where I doubted myself. It feels wonderful," said Hector, who was cautiously jubilant after her sixth World Cup victory. At the same time, it's so sad to see Mikaela fall like that. It breaks my heart and everyone's heart here."

Questions after the interim
The US Ski Association announced further information. "Take comfort in the fact that she asked about her split times." Shiffrin had been 0.32 seconds faster than second-placed Hector in the first run and had said afterwards: "The course and the conditions are really spectacular."

It didn't go well at all for the podium trio from Sölden. The victorious Italian Federica Brignone, New Zealander Alice Robinson and Julia Scheib were eliminated. Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI), the overall World Cup winner of the previous winter, was not yet in top form in her late season opener and finished 13th. She had won the Killington giant slaloms in 2023 and 2022. A slalom is scheduled for Sunday (4 p.m./7 p.m.) in Killington. The technicians will then travel back to Europe, as the two Canadian giant slaloms in Mont Tremblant were canceled due to a lack of snow.

The result:

Red-white-red series of failures
The ÖSV women disappointed with the exception of Ricarda Haaser (8th), who was the only Austrian to finish in the points. Haaser achieved her best result since an eighth place in Soldeu in February 2024. "The technical skiing was quite decent. I'm still lacking that last bit of cheekiness to really take the direct, determined route to the gate," said the Tyrolean on ORF.

Liensberger slipped on the inside ski after a few goals
While Haaser was happy to be able to rely on her equipment, her colleagues revealed major problems in the changing snow conditions in the first run, with slippery patches alternating with grippy ones. Shiffrin also spoke of stones in the slope. Katharina Liensberger slipped on the inside ski after a few gates and remained in the snow for a short time. The Vorarlberg native then skied down on her own.

"I'm glad that I'm healthy because it's a cruciate ligament snow!"
Scheib also retired from the race after less than 20 seconds of skiing. "I'm glad I'm healthy because it's cross-country snow," said the Sölden bronze medallist. Stephanie Brunner fought back a little longer against the retirement. In Franziska Gritsch's case, however, nothing is falling into place. The Tyrolean, who trains outside the ÖSV structures, finished 4.93 seconds behind. Elisabeth Kappaurer was also more than four seconds behind on her comeback. Nina Astner (32nd/+3.58) was 11/100ths off the pace for the second run, while Lisa Hörhager was clear (+5.46).