Alice Robinson takes World Cup giant slalom event for first win since 2021 as Federica Brignone crashes out

New Zealand's Alice Robinson celebrates on the podium of the Women's Giant Slalom event of FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup in Kronplatz, Plan de Corones, Italy. Photo / AFP

Alice Robinson won the World Cup giant slalom at Kronplatz overnight, claiming her first win of the season after local hero Federica Brignone slid out of contention in a second-run disaster.

New Zealander Robinson moved to the top of the giant slalom standings after clocking a combined time of 1m 55.28s in the Italian Dolomites.

The 23-year-old struggled to hold back the tears after her fourth career World Cup win – and her first since March 2021 – by 0.56s over reigning overall and discipline champion Lara Gut-Behrami, with American Paula Moltzan completing the podium.

“There were for sure some times in those four years when I wasn’t sure that I was going to win again but to be back and winning here is just so special,” said Robinson.

“It’s a lot, so much has happened in the last four years that to get back to winning is really special.

“I’m just proud, in the second run I just wanted to be brave, ski on the limit. I think it was about time that I got a win.”

Robinson has 300 points in the giant slalom standings, just four more than Sara Hector who crashed out at the exact same point as Brignone, early in the second run.

Sweden’s Hector and Brignone had shared the wins from this season’s four previous giant slalom races and the Italian had a big advantage before beginning her second run.

Brignone, 34, is the oldest woman to win a World Cup race and is gunning for her second overall title with four wins this season.

She was the favourite for a second straight victory after winning Sunday’s super-G in Cortina d’Ampezzo and a fine first run on Tuesday morning.

An “exhausted” Brignone was furious with her errors on her home snow.

“I’m angry and disappointed because in the giant slalom I’m skiing really good and I’m making mistakes,” she said.

“It’s the third race out of five that I’m out and this is kind of making me crazy.

“I wanted to win today in front of my fans, my family, my friends.”

Her mistake cost her top spot in the giant slalom standings and led to her lead in the overall table being slashed to 55 points, with Gut-Behrami lurking in second ahead of downhill and super-G events in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany this weekend.

Gut-Behrami achieved her first giant slalom podium of the season after five podiums in super-G and downhill this campaign.

“It was a little bit of a complicated start to the season for me in GS, physically,” the Swiss skier said.

“I’ve had some trouble with my knee and I’m not one who can ski when I feel pain so first of all I had to find my confidence again to wake up every morning and say ‘okay, nothing is hurting’.

“I’m still doing a few mistakes, it’s still not perfect but I’m fast and on those results I can build and get some confidence.”