Italian skier Brignone wins World Cup season opener as Shiffrin drops to 5th
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup giant slalom, in Soelden, Austria, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Alessandro Trovati]
SOELDEN, Austria (AP) — Italian skier Federica Brignone has won the women’s World Cup season opener after first-run leader Mikaela Shiffrin dropped to fifth. The American posted only the 27th-fastest time in the second run of the giant slalom and finished 1.61 seconds off the lead. Brignone defeated Alice Robinson of New Zealand by 0.17. Austrian skier Julia Scheib trailed by 1.08 in third for her first career podium result. Defending overall champion Lara Gut-Behrami decided shortly before the start to skip the race.
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Italy's Federica Brignone celebrates winning an alpine ski, women's World Cup giant slalom, in Soelden, Austria, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Marco Trovati