Federica Brignone aimed for back-to-back victories at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Giant Slalom event held on February 22, 2025, at Sestriere, Italy. After clinching the win on the previous day, she finished the first run of the giant slalom event with the fourth-best time, just twelve hundredths of a second behind the leader. The competition was tight, with athletes such as Alice Robinson, Lara Gut Behrami, and Britt Richardson staking their claims for the podium.
Brignone’s time of 1 minute and 3.35 seconds put her right behind Robinson, who set the fastest run at 1:03.23. Gut Behrami came closely at 0.06 seconds behind Robinson, with Richardson lagging just 0.07 seconds behind the Swiss skier. Brignone expressed satisfaction with her performance, offering insights on the track: "Il tracciato non è mai un problema, bisogna sapersi adattare sempre – Quando ci sono due giganti consecutivi, nel secondo il livello è più omogeneo. Ho fatto un po’ più fatica rispetto a ieri dal punto di vista fisico ma è comunque una manche solida." ("The course is never a problem, you have to adapt always – When there are two consecutive giant slaloms, the level is more homogeneous. I struggled a bit more today from a physical standpoint, but it was still a solid run.")
The first run showcased exceptional skill and resilience among the competitors, with Brignone leading the next group closely trailing the top three. Sara Hector finished fifth, and Julia Scheib was sixth, followed closely by Camille Rast. Meanwhile, both Marta Bassino and Sofia Goggia faced concerns; they placed 13th and 17th, respectively. Bassino expressed, "Un passo alla volta, oggi ho sentito sensazioni più belle rispetto a ieri e sono più soddisfatta." ("One step at a time, today I felt nicer sensations than yesterday, and I am more satisfied.") Goggia, too, tackled her disappointing start following her problems on the previous run, stating, "Sapevo che c’era un buco alla fine del muro e l’hpo beccato in pieno E’ stata una discreta manche per come ho sciato, ora vediamo di attaccare nella seconda." ("I knew there was a hole at the end of the wall, and I got caught right there. It was decent run for how I skied; now let's see how we attack the second one.")
The competition faced some preliminary challenges as weather conditions loomed, with visibility issues noted during the race alongside statistical irregularities: astonishingly, the top 17 racers were within just over one second from each other. Brignone, known for her adaptability and tactical acumen on the slopes, remains committed to leveraging her experience and skill to pull off another stellar performance and ride the momentum from her recent victory.
On the other hand, U.S. star Mikaela Shiffrin did not qualify for the second run after performing poorly in the first. A stark comparison to her previous achievements, this marked the first time since 2012 she has missed qualifying for the second run of the giant slalom. The second run promised to be electrifying, with spectators eager to see how the athletes would manage the tight margins and demanding conditions as they re-entered the arena.
With the second run rapidly approaching, Brignone prepared mentally and physically to challenge her opponents head-on, knowing the stakes involved were especially high, and the confidence of the crowd behind her gave her even more determination. Each competitor has her own story and struggle, all aiming for success, especially Brignone, who wishes to solidify her legacy as one of the top racers of her time.
The excitement was palpable as the fans anticipated the breathtaking athleticism and fierce competition set to unfurl on the slopes of Sestriere. The second run would not only determine the podium for the day but could also play significant roles in the overall standings of the World Cup season.