New Zealand's Alice Robinson Secures First World Cup Victory in Four Years

Alice Robinson, representing New Zealand, marked her return to the winner's circle with a stunning victory in the giant slalom at Kronplatz, Italy. This win, her first since March 2021, came after she clocked an impressive combined time of 1 minute and 55.28 seconds. Robinson's success was sealed after frontrunner Federica Brignone, who had led the race, suffered a crash during her second run. With this triumph, Robinson ascended to the top of the giant slalom rankings, surpassing competitors Sara Hector and Brignone, who both were unable to finish.

In the race, Robinson began in fifth position after her first run but showcased her talent and determination during the second run. Following a perfect performance, she secured the lead as other skiers struggled; Hector crashed and Gut-Behrami lost crucial time early in her run. The only remaining challenge was Brignone, but as she went off course, Robinson's victory became certain. The emotions were palpable as Robinson expressed her disbelief, reflecting on the four years since her last win and how uncertain she felt during that time. "It's just so special," she shared, emphasizing the significance of her return to winning. Following this event, Gut-Behrami climbed to second place in the overall standings, narrowing the point gap with Brignone. The upcoming races will take place in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.