Austria’s Julia Scheib showcased a remarkable performance at the women’s World Cup giant slalom opener in Solden, Austria, securing a victory and preventing American skier Paula Moltzan from claiming her first career win. Moltzan led a strong U.S. ski team presence with Mikaela Shiffrin finishing fourth and Nina O’Brien in sixth place, alongside four other Americans in the top 20.
Scheib extended her lead from the first run by 1.28 seconds to ultimately win the race by 0.58 seconds, marking the first World Cup GS victory for the Austrian women’s team since 2016. Lara Gut-Behrami came in third, trailing by 1.11, with Shiffrin finishing 1.42 seconds behind.
Expressing relief, Scheib mentioned, “A weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Seeing the green light was a huge relief.” This victory marked her first World Cup win after securing third place in last year’s season opener.
Moltzan expressed her excitement about matching her career-best result, acknowledging the difference between training and actual race performance. Scheib surprised the favorites with her exceptional race line, finishing the first run ahead of Moltzan by 1.28 seconds.
Shiffrin, the 2018 Olympic GS champion with 22 World Cup wins in the discipline, started in 20th place due to a drop in the GS rankings following an injury last season. Despite starting lower, she climbed to sixth after the first run and further advanced in the final run.
Val Grenier of Canada started her season with an 11th-place finish. Shiffrin, who experienced post-traumatic stress following a previous crash, mentioned her ongoing recovery and the need to regain her race mentality. The Italian team faced setbacks with Sofia Goggia falling in the first run, while former champions Federica Brignone and Marta Bassino were sidelined due to injuries.
The men’s giant slalom event at the same venue is scheduled for the following day.
