Federica Brignone: GEPA photos
Closing Tremendous G of the Season Brings Drama to La Thuile
The final regular-season race of the 2025 Ladies’s World Cup was a showdown of pace, threat, and high-stakes battles. With the tremendous G title nonetheless up for grabs and solely the World Cup Finals in Solar Valley remaining, each skier pushed to the restrict.
The Italian crowd had lots to have a good time. Federica Brignone stormed to victory in entrance of roaring dwelling followers, claiming her third tremendous G win of the season and her tenth victory throughout all disciplines she competes in. Sofia Goggia was simply 0.01 seconds behind, and Romane Miradoli accomplished the rostrum, ending 0.05 again.
The battle for the season tremendous G title is about to go right down to the wire. With right this moment’s victory, Brignone now leads Switzerland’s Lara Intestine-Behrami by 5 factors within the season’s tremendous G standings.
Shortened Course, Most Depth
With downhill coaching canceled earlier within the week attributable to climate, the downhill race was scrapped solely. That left the tremendous Gs as the one occasions in La Thuile, and like yesterday’s race, the beginning was lowered, shortening the course however not decreasing the depth.
The primary skier out of the gate, Romane Miradoli, set the early customary at 58.00, attacking with easy aggression. She was quick, however her time appeared beatable.
Then got here Brignone, the general World Cup chief, racing with precision and energy, snowboarding aggressive strains and hovering off the ultimate leap. She edged Miradoli by 0.05 seconds, igniting a deafening roar from the Italian followers.
Moments later, Goggia charged onto the course along with her trademark all-or-nothing strategy. She pushed to absolutely the restrict, throwing herself on the gates with fearless dedication. Her remaining time? Simply 0.01 seconds behind Brignone—one of many closest margins doable.
With two Italians on prime, the house crowd was ecstatic.
Title Race Tightens
In the meantime, the battle for the tremendous G Crystal Globe was unfolding in actual time.
World Champion Stephanie Venier pushed laborious however completed 1.02 seconds behind Brignone, nicely off the tempo. Then got here Intestine-Behrami, final yr’s tremendous G champion, who was combating to maintain her season title hopes alive.
The Swiss star attacked the course with confidence, launching into every flip, however the clock was not in her favor. She crossed the road in fourth, tied with Corinne Suter, one other Swiss pace specialist.
Together with her fourth-place end, Intestine-Behrami slipped 5 factors behind Brignone within the season standings. The tremendous G title battle will now go to Solar Valley, with the Crystal Globe nonetheless up for grabs.
One other main standings battle noticed Norway’s Kajsa Vickhoff Lie reclaim fourth place from Stifel U.S. Ski Staff’s Lauren Macuga. Yesterday, Macuga moved forward, however right this moment, Vickhoff Lie took it again.
The power on the end was electrical, as each rating shift added one other layer of drama.
The Second of Uncertainty—Aicher Assaults, Then Goes Over the Restrict
With fifteen skiers down, the rostrum was nonetheless unchanged:
Brignone – 57.95
Goggia – +0.01
Miradoli – +0.05
However one main menace remained—yesterday’s winner, 21-year-old Emma Aicher.
The younger German launched out of the beginning, carrying blazing pace via the primary two sectors. She was snowboarding with the identical brilliance that earned her a breakthrough victory the day earlier than.
Her turns have been sharp and fearless, her timing flawless, and he or she was on tempo to problem for an additional win.
Then, right away, all of it unraveled.
Pushing to absolutely the fringe of what was doable, Aicher misplaced her line, lacking a gate and snowboarding out of the course.
A pant rippled via the end space however the rigidity immediately lifted for the three ladies occupying the rostrum—Brignone, Goggia, and Miradoli.
The highest three spots have been now safe.
Click on pictures to enlarge
Brignone: Dominant and Centered
“Successful at dwelling, in entrance of my individuals, was considered one of my largest goals. 5 years in the past, I misplaced right here by a hundredth of a second, and right this moment, it got here again to me—that’s simply loopy. I couldn’t have completed my profession with out this second. I by no means imagined in the beginning of the season that I’d be main each the general and tremendous G standings, however I targeted on each race, and now I’m right here. This victory means all the pieces, and I’m so proud. Thanks to my workforce and everybody who labored so laborious to make these races occur.”
Sofia Goggia on the Thrilling End in La Thuile
“One hundredth of a second is nothing, however on the similar time, I’m actually proud to share this podium with Federica. She’s snowboarding on one other stage proper now, and what she’s doing is unimaginable. Going head-to-head along with her right this moment, particularly in entrance of the house crowd, made this race particular.”
Romane Miradoli on Her First Podium of the Season
“I’m actually comfortable as a result of it wasn’t straightforward. All season, I’ve been difficult myself to search out the correct approach again to the rostrum, and right this moment, I lastly did it. Beginning with bib one was traumatic, however I trusted myself and pushed all the best way to the end. Yesterday, I used to be too sluggish on the backside, so I made positive to provide it all the pieces. That is my first podium of the season, and that claims all of it.”
North Individuals Make an Influence in La Thuile
One of many largest surprises of the day got here from Canada’s Valérie Grenier, who delivered her greatest tremendous G efficiency of the season. Grenier had raced a restricted tremendous G schedule this yr, and coming into right this moment’s race, she had solely completed two of her 5 begins. However she saved her greatest for final.
Carrying bib 31, the one Canadian within the race skied like a champion, attacking the course with confidence and energy. She crossed the road in eighth place, ending 0.66 seconds behind Brignone—the most effective North American results of the day.
Vonn’s Comeback Continues
The highest Stifel U.S. Ski Staff skier was none apart from Lindsey Vonn. At 40 years previous, the extremely adorned skier continued to show her capability in her comeback season. Immediately, she delivered one other robust efficiency, ending thirteenth, including to her rising listing of top-15 outcomes this season.
Her expertise and talent have been on full show, notably in the midst of the course, the place she carried glorious pace via the technical sections.
Lindsey Vonn on Her Efficiency and Racing in Italy
“Immediately was undoubtedly higher than yesterday, sort of just like the final time I raced right here. I want I had been a bit of quicker—I used to be simply on the incorrect aspect of the time, and some tenths might have put me in sixth or seventh. However for me, it was vital to get to the end. My tremendous G season has been up and down, so I’m pleased with a stable run, and it provides me confidence heading into the finals.
Racing in Italy is all the time particular. The followers right here have been so supportive all through my profession, and it means so much to really feel that power on the end. I hope to be again racing in Cortina subsequent yr.”
A Powerful Day for Macuga
For Lauren Macuga, right this moment was a uncommon disappointment in what has been a breakthrough season.
The younger American received her first World Cup tremendous G in St. Anton and claimed bronze within the occasion on the Saalbach World Championships. However right this moment, she struggled to search out the pace she wanted, ending exterior the highest 15 for the primary time all season in nineteenth place.
It’s an indication of how a lot Macuga has grown. A yr in the past, a top-20 end would have been successful, however right this moment, it seems like a setback. Nonetheless, she heads to Solar Valley because the fifth-ranked tremendous G skier for the season, proving her place among the many world’s greatest.
Lauren Macuga Displays on the Season and Appears to be like Forward to Solar Valley
“Immediately wasn’t my greatest, however I nonetheless had some stable snowboarding. It’s loopy to look again on this season—it’s been so enjoyable and simply completely insane. I couldn’t have requested for a greater expertise. Now, I’m wanting ahead to Solar Valley. It’s dwelling snow, and whereas we haven’t skied the course but, I need to channel all of the American power there and hopefully get on the rostrum. I do know I can.”
Wiles Grabs Closing Level in La Thuile
Jacqueline Wiles fought her approach into the highest 30, ending thirtieth and incomes one World Cup level. Identified for her downhill pace, this marked solely her third time scoring in tremendous G this season.
Whereas she received’t qualify for the tremendous G finals, Wiles has secured her spot within the downhill at Solar Valley, the place she’ll look to make an influence in her strongest occasion.
The Combat Continues in Solar Valley
With Brignone’s win, she now holds a five-point lead over Intestine-Behrami within the tremendous G season standings.
The 2025 tremendous G Crystal Globe will probably be determined within the remaining race—one final showdown for the season title.
The ultimate tremendous G of the common season in La Thuile was a spectacle of pace and threat. With athletes pushing absolutely the restrict, the battle for glory is much from over.
Solar Valley World Cup Finals awaits.
Prime 30 outcomes
Click on on pictures to enlarge
Evaluation of the rostrum skiers and prime 30 North Individuals
