Federica Brignone secured her first Alpine Ski World Cup downhill triumph at St. Anton, Austria on Saturday (11 January 2025).
The Italian veteran was quickest in the sole training session on Thursday and, despite a heartstopping descent on race day, managed to stay upright on the Karl Schranz course to clinch her 30th career World Cup win.
Recent heavy snowfall meant skiers who deviated from the racing line were punished as they passed through softer snow. And the course sped up as the race progressed with the latter starters enjoying the best of the conditions.
At 34 and a half, Brignone extended her record as the oldest women’s World Cup victor in history. Swiss youngster Malorie Whitewearing start bib number 46 on just her second World Cup startwas up on the clock at the penultimate checkpoint but ended up seven-hundredths off the pace in second.
Ski and snowboard Olympic champion Ester Ledecka took third to deny Laura Pirovano a first World Cup podium finish.
-Stephanie Venier was the first of the Austrians home in fifth with Lindsey Vonn – racing in her first World Cup downhill for 2,183 days – edging out crystal globe holder Cornelia Huetter for sixth place.
The winner of the last St. Anton downhill in 2021, Sofia Goggiawas up on the clock at the first checkpoint, but the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic gold medallist fell on a right-footed turn. She was quickly back on her feet and able to ski to the bottom.
Lara Gut-Behrami was also quick at the start but had to slam on the brakes to avoid missing a gate. The Swiss paid the price for being overly aggressive and had to settle for 12th place.
Swiss
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