KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia (AP) — Olympic champion Sara Hector showcased her effortless dominance on Saturday, winning her second women’s World Cup giant slalom of the season at Kranjska Gora. Hector finished the race with stunning precision, 1.42 seconds faster than 18-year-old Lara Colturi of Albania who marked her own remarkable achievement by securing second place.
Hector, who was the fastest on both runs, mastered the icy conditions with grace and skill. She started off strong by leading after her first run, clocking times significantly faster than her competitors. This victory not only bolstered her confidence but also elevated her standing as she now tops both the giant slalom and overall World Cup leaderboards.
Despite her success, Hector faced health challenges this season, battling through persistent coughing. "It's really amazing," Hector remarked after the race. "But I was resting a lot this week, so maybe it helped a little bit. When I've been training a lot, resting is a good recipe." Her dedication to recovery clearly paid off.
Meanwhile, the day wasn't as kind to Federica Brignone of Italy, who fell during her first run. This mishap ended her hopes of extending her lead after recently achieving the milestone of becoming the oldest race winner in women's World Cup history. Hector's stellar performance leaves her at the top of the giant slalom standings with 296 points from four races, significantly ahead of Brignone.
Lara Colturi's second-place finish was also noteworthy as it marked her second podium appearance and Albania's historic first podium finish in the giant slalom. "I was feeling really confident in myself last week, and finally I’ve made two really good runs," Colturi expressed, reflecting her newfound confidence as she steps onto the international scene.
Colturi's talent is notable not just for her skill, but also for her unique background. Born to Italian Olympic gold medalist Daniela Ceccarelli, Colturi made the decision to represent Albania, capitalizing on her mother's heritage. The decision has proven fruitful, and her recent successes are likely to inspire future generations of athletes from Albania.
New Zealand's Alice Robinson rounded out the podium with her third-place finish, finishing 1.52 seconds behind Hector. This consistent performance places her among the top athletes in the sport. All eyes were also on the American racers, with AJ Hurt leading the charge in tenth place, finishing 2.73 seconds off Hector’s winning time.
The absence of star skier Mikaela Shiffrin, who is currently sidelined due to injury, has opened the field, allowing for fresh talent to surge forward. Nonetheless, Hector’s continued triumph establishes her as one of the dominant forces this season.
Looking forward, the next event on the schedule is the women’s slalom taking place Sunday at Kranjska Gora, where competitors will again face challenging conditions. With Hector’s current momentum, she is expected to be one of the frontrunners for the slalom title as well, eyeing another opportunity to solidify her lead.
While Saturday proved to be triumphant for Hector and Colturi, it was less so for the Swiss skiers. Lara Gut-Behrami, who entered the second run as the fifth fastest, finished sixth overall, reflecting her struggles with confidence on the slopes. Camille Rast, who was leading the overall World Cup standings before this race, improved her performance from the first to the second run, finishing eighth, but relinquished her lead to Hector.
Even with their ups and downs, the day was packed with excitement and showcased the dynamic nature of competitive skiing. The battle for the World Cup title is heating up, and fans are eager to see how the rest of the season will progress.