Dominant Vlhova snaps Shiffrin’s winning slalom streak
ZAGREB, Croatia — Mikaela Shiffrin hugged her biggest rival in slalom for a few seconds and gave her some pats on the back.
Just beaten by Petra Vlhova in the first women’s World Cup race of 2020 on Saturday, the American threetime overall champion was gracious in defeat after seeing her winning streak in slaloms, which had lasted for almost a year, ended by the Slovakian skier.
“Petra just did an amazing job both runs. She skied really well today. That’s the fight and it is really an honor to be part of that,” Shiffrin said.
Building on a big lead of more than one second from the first leg, Vlhova was also the fastest in the final run to extend her advantage over Shiffrin to 1.31 seconds.
“This victory for me is important,” Vlhova said. “I knew Miki was very fast (in the final run). If I wanted to win, I had to risk all the time.”
Austria’s Katharina Liensberger trailed by a massive 3.49 seconds in third, while Wendy Holdener of Switzerland took fourth spot.
“Threesomething is too much,” Vlhova said about the difference between the top two and the rest of the field.
“It is like this, we are on another level, me and Mikaela,” she added.
Vlhova and Shiffrin were so far ahead that even a deficit of five seconds was still enough to make it into the top 10.
Shiffrin had won all six World Cup races and the world championship event in the discipline since Vlhova last beat her in Flachau, Austria, on Jan. 8, 2019.
The pair have won all 24 World Cup slaloms since Frida Hansdotter triumphed in January 2017. The Olympic champion from Sweden retired last year.
Shiffrin and Vlhova are also 12 in the season’s slalom and overall standings, with the American leading by 120 and 313 points, respectively.
Their next slalom duel will be in 10 days’ time in Flachau.
“Some days I am perfect, some days I am like soso, but with Miki you have to be always perfect,” Vlhova said. “I want to be more stable with my runs.”
A men’s race on the same hill is scheduled for Sunday.