Rome (AFP)

Two on the highest step of the podium: the Italian Federica Brignone and the Slovak Petra Vlhova shared the victory on Saturday during the giant slalom of the World Cup of Sestriere (Italy), leaving Mikaela Shiffrin to ... a hundredth second.

From the big gap to the pocket square, the podiums of the Women's World Cup can sometimes have very different faces.

15 days ago in slalom in Zagreb, Vlhova and Shiffrin were already in the trio but there were three and a half seconds between the Slovakian, victorious, and the Austrian Katharina Liensberger, 3rd!

While on Saturday in Piedmont, the top three were held in one hundredth after two rounds and more than two minutes and twenty seconds of racing.

But the case should not particularly amuse Shiffrin, still looking for his first victory in 2020.

The triple winner of the general classification of the World Cup certainly continues to collect the podiums after his 3rd place in Flachau and his 2nd place in Zagreb, each time in slalom, but the victory counter remains blocked at 64 since the slalom of Lienz end December.

Above all, it has been three straight races that Shiffrin sees Vlhova ahead of her and confirm her current great form.

- "too happy" -

On Saturday, on the Turin 2006 Olympic track, the Slovakian managed two very solid heats (2nd fastest in the first, 3rd in the second) to get her 13th World Cup success, the fourth in a month.

"I’m really happy with this victory. It’s my first giant this season. When I got down and saw a hundredth advantage over Shiffrin, I was too happy. but that's enough to win, "said Vlhova.

The Slovak must therefore this time share the victory with Brignone, impressive during the first heat of which she signed the best time, but just a little behind on the second course (5th time).

"I managed to stay lucid. When I saw that I was first, I exploded with joy. Then I saw that it was at the same time as Vlhova, but it suits me very well as that ", said the Italian, who also won her 13th victory at the highest level.

The three protagonists of the day are also found in the general classification of the World Cup, with Shiffrin still clearly in the lead, ahead of Vlhova (2nd) and Brignone (3rd).

And in the race for the giant's little Globe, this time Brignone is at the controls, ahead of Shiffrin (2nd). Vlhova is 4th, behind another Italian, Marta Bassino, who finished 10th in Sestriere.

On the French side, Coralie Frasse-Sombet remains regular in the Top 15 with its 11th place, while Clara Direz placed 13th.

Sunday, the skiers will still be in Sestriere for a parallel giant.

© 2020 AFP