Under a bright sun, Brignone showed her commitment on a tricky track to beat the Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami and the Norwegian Ragnhild Mowinckel, tied at 71/100.

But the latter two, speed specialists who never compete in slalom, decided to give up before the afternoon slalom, having used the morning super-G as a benchmark for the rest of the Worlds.

Huge favorite, the American Mikaela Shiffrin, defending champion, set the sixth time at 96/100 from Brignone, placing her in provisional fourth place after the retirements of Gut-Behrami and Mowinckel.

Shiffrin can still hope to win after the slalom round, disputed at 2:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. GMT).

The 27-year-old American is indeed the best specialist in tight stakes.

Brignone, Olympic bronze medalist in the combined in Beijing, will have to limit the breakage in slalom, which she rarely competes on the world circuit.

"I'm happy with my run, I didn't expect to be in front. I did what had to be done, I was always ahead. I was aggressive on my skis", she launched.

The French Tessa Worley and Laura Gauché took 11th place tied at 1 sec 39/100.

Worley, in scouting, will not line up in the slalom.

Gauché, she will take the start of the slalom well, even if she considers that there are only slim chances of success.

"In slalom I know it's going to be complicated. I can beat a lot of downhillers, but pure slalomers are untouchable," said the skier, provisional eighth taking into account the packages.

The American Mikaela Shiffrin in the combined super-G of the World Ski Championships on February 6, 2023 in Méribel in the French Alps © Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

Romane Miradoli set the 16th fastest time at 1 sec 67/100.

Double combined Olympic champion, the Swiss Michelle Gisin is 14th at 1 sec 58/100, just ahead of her compatriot Wendy Holdener.

© 2023 AFP