Once again, Petra Vlhova was unbeatable. After winning the opening two slalom events in this World Cup season in Levi and finishing second in Killington, Petra Vlhová returns today in Lienz to the top of the podium.
The Slovak overall World Cup winner confirms she is now number one in Slalom with another flawless performance. Vlhova won after setting the fastest time in the first run and the second faster in the final run.
Vlhova leads the slalom standings, 120 ahead of Mikaela Shiffrin, who missed today's race after a positive COVID-19 test.
She is level now with Perrine Pelen (15) in seventh place on the women's list for most World Cup slalom victories. Today's win is her 23rd victory and 50th podium in the World Cup.
"It wasn't easy. It was very close after the first run and the pressure was there. Conditions were perfect and the settings for both runs were not easy. In the end, I am happy to get another victory. I have confidence in my slalom skiing right now. I hope that it will continue like this next year and that I will stay healthy”, said Vlhova.
Katharina Liensberger finished in second place, +0.51 seconds behind Vlhova. It's her first podium this season. The last time she was on the podium was in Lenzerheide, on the World Cup Finals, when she won the Slalom event. The winner of last season's Slalom crystal globe, finished sixth and eighth in the opening two Slalom races in Levi. She finished in the fourth position in Killington.
“I'm really happy that it turned out that way now. I am really relieved. It's nice to ski here in Lienz. It really took full attack and full courage here. I wanted to ski with joy and I managed to do that. I think I'm on the right track”, said Liensberger.
Michelle Gisin completed the podium +0.68 seconds behind the Slovakian. She also finished third in the slalom in Lienz in 2019, her first career World Cup podium in this discipline.
It's her second podium of the season, after finishing third in the first Giant Slalom held in Courchevel. Gisin continues to impress despite her difficult preparation and Pfeiffer's glandular fever.
"It was a difficult time for me. You feel like it never changes and then it slightly starts to improve. It means a lot to me. I am very grateful for the improvement and the podium”, Gisin said.
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