Sölden (Austria) (AFP)

Mikaela Shiffrin edged Gut-Behrami by 14 / 100th and Petra Vlhova by 1 sec 30 / 100th to secure her 70th victory on the world circuit at just 26 years old.

Only the Swede Ingemar Stenmark and his compatriot Lindsey Vonn have more.

It is also her first giant success since December 2020 when she won in Courchevel.

Shiffrin strikes people after two seasons in withdrawal, marked by the sudden death of his father in early 2020 and the Covid-19 pandemic.

From left to right, Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami, American Mikaela Shiffrin and Slovakia Petra Vlhova on the podium in the giant slalom of the World Cup in Sölden, Austria, October 23, 2021 Joe Klamar AFP

Vlhova, holder of the last big globe, limited the damage after a disappointing first round completed with the 7th fastest time, at 81 / 100th of the best time achieved by Gut-Behrami for 2 / 100th less than Shiffrin.

The Swiss, winner of the big globe in 2016 and again fighting to the end for the general classification in the last exercise, confirms that she will have to be counted on this season too: it is only her second podium in giant slalom since his severe left knee injury in 2017.

The French Tessa Worley, double world champion of the specialty (2013, 2017), also signed a good comeback after finishing only 16th in the first round: the skier from Grand Bornand finished eighth at 1 sec 65 / 100th of Shiffrin.

As for the Italian Marta Bassino, defending champion of the small globe of the specialty and victorious in Sölden last year, she made a mistake in the first round, missing a gate in the second half of the course.

© 2021 AFP