Competing in her first World Cup giant slalom race in nearly 12 weeks, Mikaela Shiffrin faced a challenging return as she finished 2.89 seconds off the lead in the opening run. The American skier had been sidelined from the discipline since sustaining severe trauma to her oblique muscles and a deep puncture wound during a crash in Killington, Vermont, last November.
Despite not feeling entirely herself, Shiffrin expressed her determination to compete, stating on Instagram that being present at the race was a significant step for her recovery.
In the race under perfect sunny conditions, Alice Robinson of New Zealand set the pace with the fastest time, leading Federica Brignone by 0.19 seconds. Brignone, who had recently won gold in giant slalom at the world championships, trailed Robinson due to illness.
American skier Paula Moltzan, who claimed bronze at the world championships, stood in third place with 0.83 seconds to make up in the second run. However, defending overall champion Lara Gut-Behrami faced disappointment as she skied out off the course near the end of her run.
Shiffrin's absence due to injury has caused her to drop to 11th on the ranking list for World Cup GS races, losing her advantageous starting position among the top seven skiers. Despite receiving bib No. 8 for the race, Shiffrin's limited giant slalom experience in the past year posed a challenge.
Following a knee injury in January 2024, Shiffrin had focused on slalom races for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. Her return to giant slalom this season saw her finish fifth in the season-opening race in Austria before the unfortunate crash in Killington.
Shiffrin, a record-holder with 22 career giant slalom wins, has previously claimed the season discipline title in 2019 and 2023. The race in Sestriere, Italy, served as a replacement for a canceled event in Tremblant, Quebec, in December, with another giant slalom scheduled for Saturday followed by a slalom on the subsequent day.
