Petra Vlhova claimed just her second slalom win of the season at the FIS Ski Globe Cup Finals Andorra 2023 on Saturday (18 March).
Slovakia’s Olympic champion led by .32 seconds following the very first run in Soldeu, and converted her benefit into a victory margin of .43 seconds from Croatia’s Leona Popovic who scored her very first podium finish.
Series winner and general Globe Cup champion Mikaela Shiffrin was third, to tie Lindsey Vonn’s record for Globe Cup podium finishes with 137.
With the rain lashing down and visibility compromised on a rutting course, a number of racers failed to finish their second runs such as Canada’s globe champion Laurence St-Germain, Slovenia’s Ana Bucik, Katharina Liensberger, and fellow Austrian Franziska Gritsch who lasted just 3 gates.
One particular turn following a roller late in the challenge proved especially difficult for the skiers with Mina Fuerst Holtmann, Lena Duerr, and Paula Moltzan losing vast amounts of time.
The latter racers approached that section with a terrific deal of caution, but Shiffrin attacked the best half to enable herself to be somewhat conservative on the bottom half.
And following Anna Swenn Larsson skied out, Popovic made the ski of her life to take the lead with just Vlhova to go.
The 27-year-old struggled on the best half, losing her very first-run benefit, but place it with each other on the bottom section to finish her season on her higher.
The season concludes on Sunday with the women’s giant slalom.
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