The men's slalom that followed gave the great Norwegian talent Lucas Braathen his first trophy, the small slalom globe.

Shiffrin, for her 14th win of the winter, beat Norway's Thea Louise Stjernesund and Canada's Valérie Grenier.

"I feel good. It's unbelievable. We fought with the girls in this second round. I hope to come back next year and do as well. I'm going to go back to the United States, go to the beach a little, I hope you come!" she said, hilariously, at the microphone of the International Ski Federation (FIS) held by her fellow skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde.

The 28-year-old skier perfectly finished an anthology season that saw her surpass the World Cup victory records of her compatriot Lindsey Vonn (82) and Sweden's Ingemar Stenmark (86), a historic brand in alpine skiing.

Shiffrin relegated the competition away and won the overall World Cup standings for the 5th time (after 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022) with 2,206 points, the second best total of all time behind Slovenian Tina Maze's record (2,414 points in 2013).

The American, winner of the small globes of the slalom and the giant, was also crowned world champion of the giant in February in Meribel, in addition to two silver medals (super-G and slalom).

Mikaela Shiffrin at the giant of Soldeu in Andorra, March 19, 2023 © CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP

In passing, she became Sunday the most victorious skier in the history of the world circuit in giant (21 successes), ahead of the Swiss Vreni Schneider (20).

Braathen rewarded

Back at the top after a few years a little less easy, she seems limitless and could amass in the years to come a unique record.

The women's giant was also marked by the farewell of France's Tessa Worley, a skier with unparalleled longevity, double world champion of the specialty in 2013 and 2017. Teammate Coralie Frasse-Sombet also ended her career on Sunday.

A few minutes later, the men's slalom offered intense suspense.

On a track made difficult by the high temperatures, two Norwegians competed for the small slalom globe.

The young and whimsical Lucas Braathen (22) held the pressure to get ahead of his experienced compatriot Henrik Kristoffersen (28 years old and already three times crowned best slalom racer of the season).

Norwegian Lucas Braathen in Soldeu, March 19, 2023 © Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP

Deprived of the victory of the day by the Swiss Ramon Zenhäusern, Braathen fulfilled the expectations placed in this great talent, capable of shining in slalom, giant and even now in super-G when he starts.

He was rewarded with a full season in slalom, despite an operation following appendicitis, with six podiums including two victories.

Winner of the general classification for the second consecutive year, the Swiss Marco Odermatt attended the race as a spectator, he who does not compete in this discipline.

French Olympic champion Clément Noël came out in the first round. Alexis Pinturault took 10th place, while he plans to leave out the slalom from next season.

© 2023 AFP