Alpine ski World Cup 23/24: Anna Swenn Larsson claims second World Cup win in Soldeu slalom - Results
Swede Swenn Larsson held off Zrinka Ljutic to take victory in Andorra with USA's Paula Moltzan rounding out the podium.
Alpine Skiing
Anna Swenn Larsson claimed her second career FIS Alpine Ski World Cup win in Soldeu on Sunday (11 February).
The Swedish slalom specialist converted her first-run lead into victory, finished 0.35 ahead of Croatia's Zrinka Ljutic with USA's Paula Moltzan a further 0.48 back in third.
Swenn Larsson's previous World Cup triumph came at Killington in November 2022 when she finished tied for first with Wendy Holdener. But this time, she stood alone at the top of the podium.
Speaking afterwards to Eurosport, Swenn Larsson said, "It's a dream come true. it was no nice to share the first victory with Wendy but it's special to stand on the top by yourself as well.
"From not qualifying and being 24th in Levi, it's a journey. I'm so proud of myself and the team that's worked really hard for me to get back in shape."
With Mikaela Shiffrin, Petra Vlhova and Holdener all sidelined by injury, some less familiar names were in with chances of podium finishes in Andorra.
Last Sunday, Daniel Yule won the Chamonix slalom having been 30th after the first run for the biggest all-time jump to victory in a World Cup race.
History was in danger of repeating itself as France's Chiara Pogneaux - also 30th at midway - saw a succession of skiers fail to eclipse her total time with the bottom section cutting up badly.
After finishing third in Saturday's giant slalom, AJ Hurt looked like taking the lead after an aggressive top section. But the American, who was 13th after the first run, struggled like so many later on and straddled a gate.
And when Olympic giant slalom champion Sara Hector - ninth at midway - finished just five-hundredths of a second outside, Pogneaux was guaranteed her second top-10 World Cup finish.
But Pogneaux's lead would not last as Katharina Liensberger produced a strong finish to her second run. And after some quick running repairs to the course by volunteers, the race followed a more usual pattern with Michelle Gisin producing a blistering second half to take the lead.
Then came Ljutic, third after the first run, who skied the top half superbly and took over from the Beijing 2022 combined gold medallist by over half a second.
Her hopes of becoming the first Croatian since Janica Kostelic to win a World Cup race were raised as Moltzan struggled on the bottom section to finish well outside her time.
But Swenn Larsson, punching the gates out of her way in trademark fashion, charged her way through the top half of the course and managed to keep her speed going to take victory.
The technical skiers have next weekend off with two downhills and a Super G in Crans Montana starting on Friday.
Soldeu, FIS World Cup: Results from women's slalom, 11 February 2024 (top 10):
- Anna Swenn Larsson (SWE) 1:49.25
- Zrinka Ljutic (CRO) +0.35
- Paula Moltzan (USA) +0.83
- Michelle Gisin (SUI) +0.88
- Camille Rast (SUI) +1.02
- Lena Duerr (GER) +1.38
- Ali Nullmeyer (CAN) +1.39
- Katharina Truppe (AUT) +1.42
- Katharina Liensberger (AUT) +1.59
- Chiara Pogneaux (FRA) +1.61