The Giant Slalom podium at Spindleruv Mlyn: Sara Hector 1st, Paula Moltzan 2nd, Mikaela Shiffrin 3rd. | Image: FIS Alpine

A packed hillside of Czech fans, a brutally turning Giant Slalom set, and a stacked field created the perfect stage for one of the most dramatic women’s Giant Slalom races of the season in Spindlerův Mlýn, Czechia, on Saturday, January 24. With Milano Cortina 2026 looming ever closer, experience, composure, and second-run execution mattered more than raw speed—and Sara Hector once again proved why she remains the reigning Olympic champion.

Related: Sara Hector Dominates the Giant Slalom at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia

The Swedish veteran absorbed immense pressure in a chaotic second run to claim her first World Cup victory of the season, edging Paula Moltzan by just 0.18 seconds after one of the tightest finishes of the winter. The podium was rounded out by Mikaela Shiffrin, who has not been on a Giant Slalom podium in nearly two years.

Sara Hector skied to victory at Spindleruv Mlyn. | Image: Agence Zoom
Run 1: Robinson Struggles as Hector Finds Her Rhythm

Alice Robinson opened the race from bib 1, but the spinning, rhythm-breaking course immediately proved problematic. The 24-year-old struggled to find flow, bleeding time turn after turn, and was quickly swallowed by the field. Tears in the finish area told the story after she finished more than four seconds back and failed to qualify for the second run.

Related: NZ’s Alice Robinson Wins Super-G World Cup at Corviglia-St. Moritz, Switzerland

Camille Rast capitalized immediately from bib 2, laying down a composed and aggressive run that vaulted her into the early lead—over four seconds clear of Robinson. Her time withstood challenges from Zrinka Ljutić and Thea Louise Stjernesund, both of whom finished nearly three seconds adrift and outside podium contention, like Robinson.

USA’s Paula Moltzan in bib 5 delivered a strong, attacking run to slot just half a second behind Rast, before current Giant Slalom World Cup leader Julia Scheib  from Austria came within striking distance, finishing only 0.26 seconds back.

Then came Sara Hector. Starting seventh, the 33-year-old Swede looked completely at home on the demanding course. Smooth, powerful, and relentlessly clean, Hector edged Rast by just 0.02 seconds to seize the lead and send a clear message heading into run two.

Further down the order, Mikaela Shiffrin delivered one of the best surprises of the opening run. Starting from bib 14, she skied into fourth place, threading the needle between Moltzan and Scheib. Teammate Nina O’Brien in bib 13 had paved the way before Shiffrin with a strong performance in seventh, 1.38 seconds back.

Two first-run highlights came from outside the top group: Sue Piller stormed into ninth from bib 34 while all-rounder Emma Aicher impressed with 10th from bib 31.

Team USA’s AJ Hurt qualified for run 2 solidly in 12th, while Elisabeth Bocock and Katie Hensien both recorded DNFs.

Mikaela Shiffrin on course. | Image: Agence Zoom

Run 2: Moltzan Throws the Gauntlet, Hector Answers

Germany’s Fabiana Dorigo kicked off the second run after qualifying 30th from bib 35—and made the most of it. Her time of 1:13.80 stood up as the eighth-fastest second run and catapulted her to a career-best 17th overall. Austria’s Stephanie Brunner briefly took over the lead before handing the baton to Nina Astner, and then Lara Colturi. Colturi has endured a frustrating season after a promising early winter with four podiums. Today it was outside the top 10 for the Albanian-Italian youngster.

15th starter Britt Richardson from Canada delivered one of the standout runs of the day, jumping into the lead by 0.68 seconds over Colturi. But the leaderboard continued to churn and it was an overall ninth place for the Canadian—not a personal best but only her second time to finish in the top 10 at a World Cup.

USA’s AJ Hurt, meanwhile, backed up her first run with another composed effort, moving into eighth overall—another strong Olympic signal for Team USA. Switzerland’s Sue Piller doubled down on her breakout day, charging into the lead group and eventually landing a stunning sixth place, her best World Cup finish to date.

There briefly was an all American podium before the final three skiers started. Shiffrin, Moltzan, and O’Brien in the leader’s area. | Image: Mikaela Shiffrin

Then the race detonated as the top seven qualifiers hit the starting gates. Nina O’Brien delivered a fantastic run, shooting into the lead 0.73 seconds ahead of Piller and setting the pace for the top skiers. Poland’s Maryna Gasienica-Daniel ended with a DNF but then Paula Moltzan—long known as the queen of the second run—absolutely unleashed. Her aggressive yet fluid skiing blew the doors off the timing system, and she crossed the line with the fastest second run of the day and a combined time of 2:24.04, instantly becoming the skier to beat. And there were still four skiers to go, so a podium was far from guaranteed.

“It felt really naturally and flowy. I am just happy, I don’t know, I am just really happy.”

— Paula Moltzan

Shiffrin followed and came heartbreakingly close, sliding into second just 0.05 seconds back. Next up was Scheib, who has won four Giant Slalom races this season. The Austrian took the lead on the top section, skiing aggressively, and adding to her lead from run 1 to lead by 0.36 seconds. Scheib looked sure to take the lead from Moltzan but then overturned on a gate on the lower section, causing her to spin out and ending her podium bid with a DNF—a shocking outcome for the Giant Slalom standings leader. This left only two skiers to shake up the podium, Rast and Hector. Rast had half a second lead on Moltzan from run 1 but the Swiss started bleeding time with every turn and the steep, turning section posed a challenge for her, while the Americans excelled on that section, putting Rast behind both Moltzan and Shiffrin.

With one skier left, excitement in the stadium was peaking. Hector entered the course knowing exactly what she needed to do. She, too, had more than half a second lead on the Americans from run 1 and while she was slowly losing the advantage. On the lower section she fell behind and it briefly looked like Moltzan had the victory, but Hector managed to glide smoothly on the last section, edging out a lead on Moltzan again and winning by 0.18 seconds. The 2022 Olympic champion showed that it’s not over until the finish line is crossed, claiming her eighth World Cup victory and the first one of the season.

For Moltzan, the wait for a first World Cup victory continues, but her fastest second run of the day and growing consistency suggest it’s only a matter of time.

Shiffrin’s first Giant Slalom podium in over a year added another emotional layer, confirming her return to contention at exactly the right moment. “It’s been more than one year since I believed I could be on the GS podium so this was a pretty special day,” the American superstar said after the race.

With four Americans in the top eight, Team USA is heading into the Olympics as a strong podium candidate—but today showed that anything is possible and nothing is guaranteed in the technical disciplines where two clean, fast runs are required. If Spindlerův Mlýn was a dress rehearsal for Milano Cortina 2026, the women’s Giant Slalom just promised fireworks.

The races at Spindlerův Mlýn continue with a Slalom on Sunday.

Hector celebrated Shiffrin’s return to the podium, knowing how much this meant to the American after her injury. | Image: Mikaela Shiffrin
So many hugs between these ladies at Spindleruv Mlyn. | Image: Leki

Hugfest 2026 at Spindleruv Mlyn. | Image: Mikaela Shiffrin