Sensational Pirovano seals Downhill Globe with third win in succession

Laura Pirovano (ITA/Head) claimed the Audi FIS World Cup Downhill Crystal Globe title in stunning style in Kvitfjell on Saturday, grabbing her third victory in a row to snatch the season-long crown from rival Emma Aicher (GER/Head).

Less than a month ago the Italian stood fourth in the standings, having never finished on a World Cup podium or ended the season higher than sixth in a Globe race. But two extraordinary victories in two days in Val di Fassa – both won by 0.01 seconds, the narrowest margin in the sport – changed everything.

Suddenly, Pirovano was starting the final Downhill of the season in the leader’s red bib, 28 points ahead of nearest challenger Aicher.

As such, the pressure was on the 28-year-old, especially with Aicher – out the start gate three ahead of Pirovano – producing a solid run down the Olympiabakken. All eyes turned back to the top, and the blue-clad skier responded like a true champion.

Solid on the top sector, she nailed the two crucial early jumps, the Russisprung and the Jansrud jump, and from there the confidence flowed. Showing all the precision and composure that has defined her run to the top, Pirovano hit 127.15 kmph on the final straight to fly to the finish and grab the glory.

Pirovano’s performance pushed Breezy Johnson (USA/Atomic) down into second on the day, denying the reigning Olympic and World champion a first ever World Cup win by just 0.15 seconds. The American did get the consolation of jumping up into third in the season-long standings.

Johnson’s late surge dropped Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (GER/Rossignol) into third in Kvitfjell – 0.25 behind Pirovano – and fourth in the Globe race.

That, along with a strong effort from Ariane Raedler (AUT/Head) saw Aicher end her Downhill season with a fifth-place finish. That left her second in the standings, 83 points behind the delighted champion.

‘Unbelievable’

When asked for one word to define her season, Pirovano had no hesitation in replying: “It’s unbelievable”. The Globe winner then expanded:

The sense of delirious disbelief was prevalent all day for the Italian.

“I felt not so good skiing down there today,” Pirovano explained. “When I crossed the finish line I was afraid to watch my time and to watch the position, I have to say. I waited a little bit and then I thought ‘OK, now I can watch’ and when I saw the green light I said, ‘No, it’s unbelievable’.”

The sad absence of the injured Lindsey Vonn (USA/Head) who won two of the first five World Cup Downhill races, and finished on the podium in the other three, clearly played a role in Pirovano’s success. But the Head skier showed great consistency all season, before becoming a serial winner right at the end. Inside the top-10 in her first six races, Pirovano then finished fifth in the Olympic Super G and sixth in the Downhill – results that convinced her she belonged at the very top of the sport.

Her mind-blowing triumphs on home snow followed and then, when she really needed it, she found her best once more to seal a golden month for the Italian Alpine ski team.  

“It was (a hard fight) but it was the last race and the tension was truly there yesterday and today in the morning but today just before the race, I was kind of calm,” said Pirovano, who won just an hour after Dominik Paris (ITA/Nordica) claimed the men’s final Downhill of the season.

“I saw the race of Kira Weidle (Winkelmann) and she did an amazing job and I said ‘OK, today it’s going to be difficult so just come down and try and do what you are able to do’.”

'The skiing is great'

Aicher has shown just what she can do across all four disciplines all season, and the 22-year-old still has plenty to fight for in the remaining three races.

The 45 points she picked up for finishing fifth, not only delivered her second place in the Downhill Globe race, but drew her to within 95 points of leader Mikaela Shiffrin (USA/Atomic) in the Overall season standings. With the pair due to contest the Super G tomorrow, a discipline in which Aicher has two wins already this season, the race for the ultimate glory is very much on.

The German will now race the Slalom on Tuesday – a discipline in which Shiffrin has won eight of nine races this season – before ending with the Giant Slalom on Wednesday.

“Of course, like you said, the season has been pretty good,” Aicher said. “The skiing is great, so just got to learn from this.”

'A great season'

Aicher’s teammate Weidle-Winkelmann – third on the day – gave some insight into how the young all-rounder is doing what few have ever managed.

“I think Emma helped me a lot," Weidle-Winkelmann said. "She is just coming to the speed side and is like ‘Oh, let’s go and have some fun and just ski’. For me, that was the key this year, to enjoy skiing more, to enjoy the competition and to be on top and fight against the best racers in the world and have fun in this process."

The duo clearly push each other.

“We are just a great team, we have fun skiing, we have fun being together on the slopes,” Weidle-Winkelmann added. “I think we can learn from each other. She can learn a little bit from me and I can learn a lot from her.”

Just ahead of her in the final season standings, Johnson was another full of smiles on the final day of Downhill racing.

The 2026 Olympic and 2025 World Downhill champion then turned her attention to what is missing from her trophy cabinet.

“Get the World Cup victory. I've always long dreamed of the Downhill Globe. You talk about the trifecta of Alpine skiing and it's the World Championship, the Olympic gold, and obviously the Globe,” Johnson said. “So, it's the last thing in Downhill that I have yet to accomplish.

“I feel like I'm skiing better than I ever have. And so, yeah, I'm really excited going into the summer and into next season.”

Before that Johnson, Aicher and co will all have another chance to shine on the speed skis, with the women’s Super G starting at 09:45 local time on Sunday.

Check out the full results from the women’s Downhill in Kvitfjell here, with the season standings in the race for the Downhill 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.