Mikaela Shiffrin earned her first World Cup podium in a speed race in nearly two years on Saturday, finishing third in a super-G at St Moritz to maintain her lead in the overall standings.
It was Lara Gut-Behrami’s turn to edge Sofia Goggia for victory on the typically tricky Swiss terrain, reversing the result of their duel in Canada last weekend.
Gut-Behrami, the world champion, raced down the piste 0.18 seconds faster than Goggia through lightly falling snow on a cold, still morning with a finish-area temperature about -7C (20F).
Shiffrin was exactly one second further back in third to complete a high-class podium.
It was just Shiffrin’s second World Cup super-G in almost two years after taking a break from speed disciplines on the season-long circuit. She had placed sixth last Sunday at Lake Louise, Alberta when Goggia had beaten Gut-Behrami by 0.11.
Gut-Behrami’s aggressive racing style on one of her home Swiss hills earned a 33rd career World Cup win at the same place as her first. Her debut victory in December 2008 was a super-G on the Corviglia course as a precociously talented 17-year-old.
The 30-year-old Swiss racer has now won or been second in all eight super-Gs so far in 2021, including taking gold at the world championships in February. Shiffrin was also third that day.
Shiffrin, who has wins in slalom and giant slalom this season, earned 60 World Cup points for her third place and leads by 70 from Goggia, who rose to second above Petra Vlhova.
Vlhova, the defending overall champion, is skipping the weekend meeting at St Moritz which includes another super-G on Sunday.
