(Are) Italian Federica Brignone took advantage of an excellent second run to win the penultimate giant slalom event of the season in the World Cup, Saturday in Are, and thus remain in the running for the title of the discipline .
Brignone needed at least 36 points more than the Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami, leader in the standings. She achieved this with the help of Sara Hector, leader after the first descent.
Hector, the reigning Olympic champion in the discipline, finished second, ahead of Gut-Behrami. The latter would have ensured the title by putting on the silver medal.
With four victories this season, Gut-Behrami nevertheless remains in an excellent position to win the title next week in Austria. It shows a lead of 95 points while a victory is worth 100 points.
Mikaela Shiffrin was not in action as she recovers from her knee injury, but the American is expected to compete in Sunday’s slalom.
Gut-Behrami is also in a good position to be crowned overall champion since Shiffrin has been absent from the slopes for six weeks. It also leads in downhill and super-G.
Cassidy Gray was the best Canadian, in 15e place. Her compatriot Britt Richardson finished 21e.