Scheib claims "dream" Giant Slalom Globe in Åre

Julia Scheib (AUS/Rossignol) put in a superb performance to win at Åre and claim the Audi FIS World Cup Giant Slalom Crystal Globe on Saturday – after her closest challenger Camille Rast (SUI/Head) DNFed during a breathless race.

The 27-year-old Austrian claimed her fifth World Cup race victory, while Paula Moltzan (USA/Rossignol, + 0.36 seconds) and Alice Robinson (NZL/Salomon, + 0.75) secured second and third places, respectively, in a frenetic pursuit which saw the race lead change on numerous occasions.

Scheib’s victory moved her onto 660 points in the Giant Slalom standings, an unassailable lead of 189 points over Rast, with just one race remaining.

Meanwhile, the men’s Super G in Courchevel, France was cancelled on Saturday due to heavy snow and fog, edging Marco Odermatt (SUI/Stöckli) closer to a fourth consecutive Super G Crystal Globe.

Rast and Scheib led the field after the first run, crossing the line as the top two to set up a mouthwatering second leg, while Overall Audi FIS World Cup leader Mikaela Shiffrin (USA/Atomic) began in 12th, going into the showdown after a shaky end to an otherwise strong first outing.

Shiffrin, however, showed her class to take the lead in the second run but was usurped by rival Emma Aicher (GER/ Head) as the race leader.

Aicher’s time at the top wasn’t to last long. Alice Robinson, who has finished fourth in the first run flew down to post a lead of 0.99 seconds. Paula Moltzan then briefly held first until Scheib took to the course to claim pole position.

The stage was now set for Rast, the final competitor to wrest the race away from Scheib, but the Swiss DNFed early into her second run to hand Scheib the win and the Giant Slalom Crystal Globe, making her the first Austrian women to claim the honour since 2016.

Speaking after a gruelling race, Giant Slalom champion Scheib said: "It means a lot, because the last year has not been easy, I am so grateful.

"You feel pressure, especially in a race like this, but you try to block out the outside noise and just focus on the skiing.

Highlighting the challenge of the second run, she said: "It was a fight from the first gate to the last. I couldn't breathe in the finish area."

On winning the Crystal Globe, she added: "It means a lot because it has been a dream of mine for many years so to achieve this is very special."

Reflecting on the race, Paula Moltzan said: "I thought I executed the first run well, which you need for things to come together.

"The second run was a little bit loose and scrappy but I am happy."

She added: "Julia is a really good friend of mine, so I am really happy for her. In Copper Mountain, when she DNFed, she was so down, so I am really proud of her."

Alice Robertson was also content. "It was good, it was pretty tough. though," she said. "The second run definitely felt pretty wild because of the conditions.

"I am really happy, because GS has been really up and down for me this year."

On Scheib's victory, she added: "She has been on point in pretty much every race. I am really happy for her, she is a well deserved winner."

Odermatt on the brink of another Globe

The forced cancellation of the first of two back-to-back men’s Super G races in Courchevel mean that the all-conquering Odermatt is ever closer to yet another season crown.

With just two Super G races now left in the season and a maximum of 100 points available to the winner of each, Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT/Head) needs everything to go his way to have a chance of catching the Swiss star.

Odermatt will line-up for Sunday’s Super G in Courchevel with a 158-point lead in the standings over the second-placed Austrian, meaning he will have a great chance to add the Super G Globe to the Overall and Downhill titles he won in the French resort on Friday.

Tune in at 09:45 CET to catch all the action.

Check out the full results from the women’s Giant Slalom in Are here, with the latest season standings in the race for the Giant Slalom Crystal Globe here.

Also, do please head to Reuters Connect and Actionpress.de to view and purchase a wide selection of photographs from this race and from all FIS events.