Mikaela Shiffrin wins again, also dominates the night slalom in Courchevel and confirms her undefeated streak in the specialty this winter: four successes in as many races for the American who leaves Camille Rast at 1″55 with the German Emma Aicher third at 1″71. But the French challenge also gave the best result of her career to Lara Dalla Mea, excellent eighth thanks to a second comeback heat that allowed her to move up eight positions. Ninth twice in giant slalom in Tremblant, before today in slalom the twenty-six year old from Tarvisio had never gone higher than 14th place in March in Aare.
Della Mea did well at limiting the damage in a first heat complicated by the snow conditions and finishing in sixteenth place and then launching a comeback in the second thanks to a solid and fluid descent. The result allows the Carnian to accumulate even more confidence after Tremblant’s two ninth places in the giant slalom, confidence which is reflected in the stability of her current skiing.
“For me it’s the first time among the top ten in slalom and I’m very happy. I’m working in the right direction, even in giant slalom, I’m satisfied with the progress I’m making, both on a mental, physical and material level. In the second round I wanted to do a good run to improve my placing: I don’t want to settle. This result gives me confidence and I have to continue working. Continuity is important, it’s not a given in skiing: I’m trying to adapt to all situations and consistency is essential to grow.”
Martina Peterlini also recovered eight positions in the second heat: the thirty-year-old goes from 28th to twentieth place, supported by a condition that is still not optimal after the knee problems that slowed down the start of the season.
“It was important to do the second heat – confessed the twenty-eight year old from Rovereto – I tried to attack it with what I have inside me at the moment. I lack the race pace and it is therefore essential to compete a lot to regain the best confidence which is clearly not at the top today. But we are getting there. Before Semmering I will try to train as much as possible on even long slaloms, given that in the last three months I have only been able to do it for a few days and the physical condition at the moment is what it is”.
Over thirtieth place in the first heat were Beatrice Sola (+4″70), Emilia Mondinelli (+4″76) and Celina Haller (+6″52). Instead, Giorgia Collomb left while she was in line to qualify despite having bib number 52.
Shiffrin’s excessive power is reflected in the specialty ranking: 400 points for Mika, who has risen to 105 victories, of which 68 in slalom, against the 220 of Lara Colturi (today out in the first) and the 182 of Rast; Della Mea is 16th at 53. The American also extends her lead in the general with 558 points and takes her lead over Alice Robinson to 164, with Rast third at 343; Sofia Goggia is tenth (240).
The women’s World Cup remains in France and moves to Val d’Isere: the two tests are scheduled for Thursday and Friday in view of the downhill on Saturday, followed by the second super-G of the season on Sunday.
Finishing order SL women Cdm Courchevel (Fra)
