Super-G Crans-Montana: Blanc stuns with maiden win, Goggia beaten by 18 hundredths

Switzerland's Malorie Blanc created a sensation on Saturday, January 31, claiming her maiden World Cup victory in the Crans-Montana Super-G, the final women's event before the Milano-Cortina Olympics opening February 6.
Before an elated home crowd in the Valais resort, the 22-year-old skier from nearby Ayent (20 minutes from Crans-Montana) narrowly edged Italy's Sofia Goggia and American Breezy Johnson.

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Podium: Blanc ahead of Goggia and Johnson

Malorie Blanc posted a time of 1:17.34, beating Sofia Goggia by just 18 hundredths (1:17.52) and Breezy Johnson by 36 hundredths (1:17.70). This victory marks her second career podium after finishing second in the St. Anton downhill last season, her first at this level.

The Swiss racer, a two-time junior world champion, delivered a spectacular finish. Still trailing Goggia at the final timing split, she made the difference in the technical finale section - clocked at 12.79 seconds -. "It's incredible, I still can't believe it," she said. "I'm so happy for myself and for the fans. It was a bit of a freestyle run. I knew it didn't need to be a perfect run to win. But I did the job and I'm happy I could show what I can do."

Goggia: Frustrating second but leadership consolidated

Sofia Goggia delivered a magnificent run, starting with the red bib of discipline leader. The 2018 Olympic downhill champion led the race until Blanc's arrival, posting notably the best time in the final sector. But 18 tiny hundredths denied her a ninth Super-G victory.

This result allows her to consolidate her lead in the specialty standings, widening her gap over absent Lindsey Vonn. It marks her 66th career podium and her first Crans-Montana Super-G podium (after four wins and one third in downhill on this slope).

Johnson: A welcome podium for Team USA

Breezy Johnson brought welcome joy to the American team, the day after Vonn's injury. Starting with bib 29, the reigning downhill world champion delivered a consistent, powerful run to claim third place.

"I've always wanted to be really good at Super-G and I've always struggled to put it all together in this one-run format," she explained. "To be able to get a podium and feel among the best in the world, even if it's just today, it's really incredible and means so much to me in such a difficult discipline. I base my performance on trying to ski my best, but when I saw the time and result, I was shocked!"

Italy: Melesi just off podium, Pirovano's final gate heartbreak

Italy experienced an emotional rollercoaster. Roberta Melesi, with bib 2 and a time of 1:17.76, led the race for a long time. Displaced by Goggia, then Blanc, she held provisional third until the arrival of Breezy Johnson (bib 29) who relegated her off the podium by just six hundredths.

Despite this frustration, it marks Melesi's career-best result, coming tantalizingly close to her first World Cup podium. An encouraging performance one week before the home Olympics.

But Italy's true drama bears Laura Pirovano's name. Starting with bib 20, the Italian delivered an exceptional run, posting the best time at the third split with a massive 58-hundredth lead! She was flying toward a breakthrough victory when, in the technical finale section, she missed the penultimate gate with the finish in sight. Having crossed the line without falling, she briefly appeared in first place on the scoreboard.

It was the "beffa delle beffe" (heartbreak of heartbreaks) as Italian media headlined. Sofia Goggia said she was "really sorry for the beffe suffered by Melesi and Pirovano" after the race.

Brignone: Cautious return, mission accomplished

Federica Brignone, holder of the 2025 overall crystal globe, made a more difficult than expected return to speed events. The Super-G world championship silver medalist finished 18th at 1.28 behind the winner. It was her first speed race since returning from knee injury.

Starting with bib 9, Brignone began with the best split time but remained cautious, not taking all risks. A small error cost her speed.

For the Italian who had claimed two Super-G podiums in Crans-Montana in the past, what mattered was elsewhere: rediscovering sensations, confidence, and validating her Olympic participation. Mission accomplished on all three counts. "The Olympics are sacred to me and just thinking that the next races we'll do will be Olympic ones already motivates me. See you in Cortina," she had said before the race.

Ortlieb: 24 hours later, she's there

Nina Ortlieb showed admirable courage by taking the start 24 hours after her crash in Friday's cancelled downhill. The Austrian, starting with bib 22, finished 20th at 1.38, visibly cautious but determined to finish.

For her, what mattered wasn't the time but regaining confidence.

Vonn: Absent but "Olympic dream not over"

As announced by her coach Chris Knight in the morning, Lindsey Vonn did not start the Super-G.

"No, she is not racing today but preparing for Cortina as usual," Knight told the Associated Press. Vonn then posted on Instagram: "Unfortunately, I won't be able to race today. Thank you for all the love and support I have received. Means the world to me. Doing my best right now... 🙏🏻🤞🏻"

Her absence benefited Goggia who widens her lead in the specialty standings. But what matters for Vonn is her participation in the Olympic downhill on February 8 in Cortina, her favorite venue (12 World Cup wins).

Other incidents and DNFs

Emma Aicher, winner of the previous Super-G two weeks ago in Italy, crashed after posting the best first split. The German slid off course at the same spot as Vonn the day before, caught out by terrain that was nevertheless much clearer for this race. ```

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Elena Curtoni also retired after hitting a gate violently.

A moment of joy for Crans-Montana

This victory by Malorie Blanc, a local hero, offered a moment of pure joy to the Valais resort, exactly one month after the Constellation tragedy that claimed 40 lives and injured 116 others on New Year's Eve.

The World Cup weekend took place in a subdued atmosphere, with all festive activities cancelled and limited to the slopes and finish area. Organizer Didier Defago had stated before competition: "Our main objective was the sporting aspect – that was the key point. We said sport should come first... it brings people together. It creates positive emotions and motivation, especially for the younger generation."

Standing in the leaders' box, Blanc conducted the crowd's singing and flag-waving like an orchestra conductor, offering Crans-Montana a moment of relief the resort desperately needed.

Next stop: The Olympics

This Super-G marked the final women's World Cup event before the Milano-Cortina Olympics opening February 6. Women's alpine skiing events will take place in Cortina d'Ampezzo, with the women's Super-G scheduled for February 15.

The favorites head to the Olympics with contrasting statuses: Goggia displays Olympic form by consolidating her leadership, Johnson has regained confidence at the right moment, Brignone is back but still building form, and Vonn faces uncertainty about her participation after her left knee injury.

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