Malorie Blanc stuns for maiden Super G success

A stunned Malorie Blanc (SUI/Atomic) claimed a superb maiden Audi FIS Ski World Cup victory on home slopes in the Crans Montana Super G.

The Swiss racer recorded just her second ever World Cup podium with a time of 1:17.34, stunning the home crowd in the biggest moment of her career.

Blanc finished ahead of Sofia Goggia (ITA/Atomic) and Breezy Johnson (USA/Atomic) on this final stop before the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games.

Following yesterday’s downhill cancellation, attention turned fully to the Saturday Super G. And with more favourable weather conditions, the slopes provided an opportunity for racers to stake their claim in the days before the Olympic Games.

With a home Games on the horizon, there was added focus for the Italian athletes, who experienced a mixed day. Roberta Melesi (ITA/Dynastar) set the time to beat within the first ten with a 1:17.76, though the likes of Federica Brignone (ITA/Rossignol) struggled. Brignone, who had two previous Crans Montana SG podiums, struggled early on to finish more than a second back. Laura Pirovano (ITA/Head) looked like she was destined to set the time to beat midway through, only to edge out of the lines in the final seconds. Sofia Goggia (ITA/Atomic) did at least nail her run. Chasing a ninth SG World Cup win, Goggia’s 1:17.52 became the new time to beat after 14.

But it was Blanc who excelled in her home nation. With only a single World Cup podium before – a 2025 St Anton downhill second – this was Blanc’s breakthrough moment. The 22-year-old moved beyond Goggia with 1:17.34, a stunning final sector of 12.79 the difference to put her into the driving seat.

A still stunned Blanc managed to find the words to sum up her success: “I know I can ski fast but trying to find the time to do it. Today I was thinking okay, the weather is really nice, this is my home. I tried to ski freely. I was feeling quite strange because I did turns on the inside ski, some turns behind. When I crossed the finish line, I felt good!”

Goggia continues strong season

Though it was Blanc who secured a home victory here for the Swiss crowd, Goggia will be hoping she can do the same when it comes to Games-time. Extending her lead at the top of the SG standings to 60 points, the Italian said: “I’m really happy with my performance today. My January wasn’t that good, especially in downhill. I knew this hill was in my court so I just tried to ski my best. I made a mistake on the second lap and couldn’t take properly the left foot and didn’t carry the speed in this part, but I’m really happy with the way I’ve been attacking the race.

While it’s another podium for Goggia, she still has eyes on improvement. “I have the confidence in downhill but in the races in January I couldn’t express my best skiing. I know I have to work a lot on myself on the flat parts if I want to be really complete in this discipline, but I was a bit disappointed."

Breezy brings a podium

Blanc and Goggia secured those top two positions, with USA’s Breezy Johnson able to bring some joy to her team after a tough day previous. With Lindsey Vonn’s injury in the cancelled downhill yesterday still in the mind, Johnson was able to secure third spot, 0.06 ahead of fourth placed Melesi, the Italian racer recording her best World Cup result in the process.

“I’ve always wanted to be really good at Super G and always struggled with putting it together on that one run format. So to be able to have a podium and to feel among the best in the world, even if today, it’s really incredible and means so much in such a difficult event."

A chance to unite through sport

Following the tragedy in Crans Montana, for many this week was a chance to bring people together through the power of sport. Didier Defago spoke in advance of competition, saying: “Our main focus was on the sporting aspect – that was the key point. We said sport has to come first…it brings people together. It creates positive emotions and motivation, especially for the younger generation."

Super G Results

Check out the full results from the women’s Super G in Crans Montana here, with the latest season standings here.

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