ALPINE FIS SKI WORLD CUP. Lara Gut of Switzerland kicked off the 2016/17 FIS Audi Alpine World Cup tour with a commanding giant slalom victory, the second of her career at the Soelden opener. After holding a 1.42-second lead following the first run, she maintained nearly the same margin of victory over runner-up Mikaela Shiffrin, who was 1.44 seconds back when all was said and done.

Gut admitted she was a little nervous heading into the first race of the season as the defending 2016 overall title winner, but she took the advice of Marcel Hirscher and her support team.  

“It’s always special in Soelden, and you know it’s my first time coming as an [overall] winner,” said Gut after the run. “I had a tough time this morning, I was just thinking all the time today – like Marcel [Hirscher] told me yesterday just to ski. My team exactly told me the same. So I tried just not to think and ski.”

After laying down a significant lead over the field in the first run, Gut was under some pressure to maintain her lead. 

"Finally, this morning, I was just like, ‘It’s a beautiful day. I love the slope. I have to enjoy that.’ And yeah, this was the key. I just tried to ski. And sometimes it’s horrible, You get in the race and start thinking instead of just skiing, but yeah, I’m happy and I’m glad I had a fast first run because the second one was a fight." 

The American Shiffrin, who started the race outside of the top seed in bib 16, gave chase in the second run but couldn't quite catch Gut. Still, she was proud of her fight in the race but still feels she has more to give. 

"I definitely like second. I like first better, but it is nice to start off on this foot and it was really a tough day for a lot of girls, I think," she reasoned. "Lara was the only one who really skied as hard as she could and I’m happy with where I’m at. I took more risks than I ever have in a GS, but I can do better. I can do more and better.”

Securing her career first podium finish in third place was 20-year-old Italian Marta Bassino whose teammates ran out to the finish area to congratulate her. She sat in third place after the first run and was able to hold onto the podium position.

“I’m so excited, and it’s the first podium. I’m so happy, it’s like a dream," Bassino exclaimed. 

Of additional note on the day was Slovakian Petra Vlhova, better known for her past success in slalom, who skied the fastest second run for a career-best giant slalom finish in eighth after starting from bib 55.

fis-ski.com

(c) Michel Cottin / Agence Zoom

Soelden (AUT)
Ladies’ Giant Slalom

22 October 2016 CET time Local time
1st Run : 10:00
2nd Run : 13:00

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Rank Bib Name Run 1 Run 2 Tot. Time Diff. Time WC Points
1 2 GUT Lara 1:10.11 1:12.91 2:23.02 100
2 16 SHIFFRIN Mikaela 1:11.53 1:12.93 2:24.46 +1.44 80
3 10 BASSINO Marta 1:11.95 1:13.00 2:24.95 +1.93 60
4 20 BRUNNER Stephanie 1:12.36 1:12.94 2:25.30 +2.28 50
5 21 GOGGIA Sofia 1:12.92 1:12.87 2:25.79 +2.77 45
6 13 WORLEY Tessa 1:12.88 1:12.96 2:25.84 +2.82 40
7 12 KIRCHGASSER Michaela 1:12.39 1:13.64 2:26.03 +3.01 36
8 55 VLHOVA Petra 1:13.64 1:12.61 2:26.25 +3.23 32
9 6 BRIGNONE Federica 1:12.08 1:14.18 2:26.26 +3.24 29
10 3 DREV Ana 1:12.62 1:13.69 2:26.31 +3.29 26
11 30 FRASSE SOMBET Coralie 1:13.54 1:13.03 2:26.57 +3.55 24
12 45 SCHNEEBERGER Rosina 1:13.42 1:13.16 2:26.58 +3.56 22
13 33 HAASER Ricarda 1:13.65 1:13.02 2:26.67 +3.65 20
14 28 TRUPPE Katharina 1:13.41 1:13.28 2:26.69 +3.67 18
15 7 WEIRATHER Tina 1:13.49 1:13.23 2:26.72 +3.70 16
16 18 HOLDENER Wendy 1:13.94 1:12.91 2:26.85 +3.83 15
17 9 GAGNON Marie-Michele 1:13.39 1:13.48 2:26.87 +3.85 14
18 41 MEILLARD Melanie 1:13.81 1:13.07 2:26.88 +3.86 13
19 36 ROBNIK Tina 1:13.22 1:13.73 2:26.95 +3.93 12
20 15 MOELGG Manuela 1:13.79 1:13.37 2:27.16 +4.14 11
21 42 DUERR Lena 1:14.05 1:13.17 2:27.22 +4.20 10
21 17 KLING Kajsa 1:12.24 1:14.98 2:27.22 +4.20 10
23 26 WILD Simone 1:14.00 1:13.33 2:27.33 +4.31 8
24 4 PIETILAE-HOLMNER Maria 1:13.34 1:14.58 2:27.92 +4.90 7
25 22 MARSAGLIA Francesca 1:13.90 1:14.24 2:28.14 +5.12 6
26 23 MOWINCKEL Ragnhild 1:13.23 1:14.93 2:28.16 +5.14 5
26 5 BREM Eva-Maria 1:13.22 1:14.94 2:28.16 +5.14 5
28 1 LOESETH Nina 1:13.29 1:15.31 2:28.60 +5.58 3
29 65 WIKSTROEM Emelie 1:14.03 1:14.91 2:28.94 +5.92 2

Disqualified 2nd run
Bib Name
47 MASSIOS Marie

Did not qualify for 2nd run
Bib Name
66 KNYSH Olha
64 POPOVIC Leona
63 IGNJATOVIC Nevena
61 FORNI Josephine
60 RAST Camille
59 ORTLIEB Nina
58 SKJOELD Maren
57 BUCIK Ana
56 KRYUKOVA Kristina
54 DIREZ Clara
53 HIRTL-STANGGASSINGER Katrin
52 ALPHAND Estelle
50 JELINKOVA Adriana
49 ISHIKAWA Haruna
46 DUBOVSKA Martina
44 DANIOTH Aline
43 RESCH Stephanie
39 GRENIER Valerie
38 ROMANOVA Anastasia
37 ANDO Asa
35 TILLEY Alexandra
34 CRAWFORD Candace
32 MCJAMES Megan
31 HASEGAWA Emi
27 BARTHET Anne-Sophie
24 CURTONI Elena
19 BAUD MUGNIER Adeline
14 CURTONI Irene
11 FANCHINI Nadia
8 HANSDOTTER Frida

Did not finish 1st run
Bib Name
62 GASIENICA-DANIEL Maryna
51 KAPPAURER Elisabeth
48 SUTER Jasmina
40 PIROVANO Laura
29 LAVTAR Katarina
25 THALMANN Carmen

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