Austria's Julia Scheib Claims Victory In Kronplatz Giant Slalom

Julia Scheib delivered a commanding performance in Tuesday's women's giant slalom at Kronplatz, capturing her maiden FIS Alpine Ski World Cup victory and announcing herself as a serious contender in the technical disciplines.

The Italian resort was bathed in sunshine with fans lining the course and filling the grandstands. It was an especially exciting day for the home crowd as Federica Brignone made her return after being sidelined by a crash last spring that kept her out for much of the season. She finished sixth.

The first run featured a tough, swingy and turny set, reflected in the wide spread of times from the leaders through the top 30.

Scheib, who had previously achieved several podium finishes but never claimed top spot, put together two nearly flawless runs on the steep Erta course to finish ahead of a competitive international field. The Austrian's combined time gave her a decisive margin over her rivals on a course known for its demanding pitch and technical challenges.

The Kronplatz venue, located in South Tyrol's Plan de Corones ski area, provided ideal racing conditions for the mid-week event, with firm snow and clear visibility allowing skiers to attack the full length of the technical layout.

Scheib's victory adds to what has been a strong season for Austrian women's ski racing, with the national team demonstrating depth across multiple disciplines. The win also marks an important milestone in her career trajectory after years of consistent performances that had placed her on the cusp of breakthrough success.

For the 27-year-old from Styria, the victory was as much about personal redemption as it was about points. Historically, the steep and icy Erta pitch had been Scheib's "bogey" track; in seven previous visits, she had recorded four DNFs and a best finish of ninth. Last year, she crashed just meters before the finish line.

Starting the second run in third place, Scheib delivered the fastest time of the afternoon (2:19.85 combined) to leapfrog the field.

"It feels amazing. I’ve had so many tough years here where I was thrown off the course," Scheib told ORF after the race. "This place is magical, but it’s also dangerous if you let your skis run too early. Today, I just tried to give everything, and it finally worked."

The result reshuffles the giant slalom World Cup standings as the circuit enters the crucial mid-season phase, with several racers still in contention for the discipline title. Scheib's victory points also boost her position in the overall World Cup rankings as the tour heads toward the championship races in March.

Technical director for the Austrian women's team praised Scheib's composed skiing under pressure, noting her ability to maintain speed through the course's most challenging sections while avoiding the errors that caught out several competitors.

The Kronplatz race continues the women's World Cup tour through Italy before the circuit moves on to additional technical events in the coming weeks. The unique Tuesday scheduling provided a standalone showcase for the giant slalom specialists following the weekend's races.

For Scheib, the victory represents the culmination of years of development within the Austrian ski racing system and validates her decision to focus intensively on the technical events where precision and timing prove decisive.

The women's World Cup continues with slalom racing scheduled for later this week as the tour maintains its intensive European schedule through the heart of the season.