Federica Brignone gave local Italian fans more to cheer about winning the Super G race at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in Cortina d’Ampezzo on Sunday (19 January).
The three-time Olympic medallist put down a flawless run to claim her sixth podium finish and fourth victory of the 2024/25 season consolidating her lead at the top of the World Cup standings. Brignone added the Super G victory to her second-place finish in the downhill race the day before.
While Brignone delighted in her two podium finishes, there was frustration for US alpine ski icon Lindsey Vonnwho crashed halfway through her run.
Brignone was the seventh racer down the Olympic piste racing home in a time of one minute, 21.64 seconds (1:21.64) knocking Corinne Suter (Switzerland) off her perch. The time proved good enough to earn Brignone her first Super G win of the season.
Super G leader and Olympic downhill champion Lara Gut-Behrami of Switzerland came painstakingly close to leapfrogging Brignone but had to be content with second place, 0.58s adrift (1:22.72).
The 40-year-old Vonn frolicked on one of her favourite slopes as she attacked the turns with reckless abandon in search of her seventh Super G victory on the iconic course.
-Vonn looked set to make a return to the podium to complete a remarkable comeback since she called time on her career in 2019.
But the Olympic champion crashed for the second time on the piste and slapped the snow in frustration bowing out of the weekend’s racing with a DNF and a 20th place in the downhill.
More to follow..
Swiss
