28-year-old Hector was fourth after the first giant slalom race in a snowy Courchevel, France, and passed both Mikaela Shiffrin and Petra Vlhova when she finished second after Marta Bassino.
- As I know Sara, I know that she was at the start with confidence and above all incredibly charged, was afraid that she would be a little overcharged but she started offensively and was determined.
It hit and slammed under the skis but it was always a movement forward, so much more in the fall line.
I am so incredibly impressed, says Pietilä Holmner.
It was six years since the last podium after injuries and heavy seasons. What is the key to return?
- She is incredibly focused and knows what she wants, sometimes she may want a little too much but I think she has found peace.
She has a good focus and received a lot of help from outside and gathered a lot of different parts and brought with her an experience as well and became wiser and feels better today.
It was a bit swaying in Sölden, super good in the parallel (Lech / Zürs) where she was four and so this which is fantastic.
Today she showed strength in two rides as well.
"Another thing to show it in competition"
Hector passed both the legendary Shiffrin and world cup leader Vlhova even though they did well.
- It is one thing to know and believe that you can and another thing to show at a competition.
It's very strong.
And having such good names behind them, Petra Vlhova and Mikaela Shiffrin, strengthens self-confidence a lot.
And those behind did not do bad rides either, it raises Sara's performance even more, that she was able to tie the sack together, sums up Pietilä Holmner.