Alpine action returns with weekend of Giant Slalom

We’re through the halfway stage of our Milano Cortina experience, but the pace is not about to let up, with Giant Slalom on the horizon for the weekend.

After a day of break, Bormio takes centre stage on Saturday as the men go in search of more medals, while it all moves to Cortina again on Sunday for the women’s competition.

Can Odermatt retain his title?

The giant slalom this campaign has been largely ran by Marco Odermatt (SUI/Stoeckli) so far, Odi having picked up a trio of victories across Solden, Beaver Creek and Adelboden. And though he came into these Games with high hopes for almost everything, it’s in the GS that those hopes would have been highest. And having the Olympic title to his name from last time in Beijing, he heads to the start with the pedigree.

The Chasing Pack for Saturday

But it’s not been solely the Odermatt show in the World Cup by any means. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA/Atomic) has Games experience from 2022, but this time he’ll represent Brazil in the hopes of securing their first ever Winter Olympic medal.

“With Norway, I carried tradition. With Brazil, I carry possibility.” Lucas puts it as clear as he possibly can. Second in the World Cup standings after a trio of second place finishes from his last three outings, it’s about more than racing for him.

Pushing in the World Cup standings is Loic Meillard (SUI/Rossignol), the man who worked alongside Odermatt earlier this week to secure silver in the team combined. Meillard is another with victory in the season so far, Val d’Isere and Schladming both going his way. And after sharing a podium together earlier this week, Meillard reveals what was said on there: “We said on the podium that we would be back on Saturday, standing together again. That's the goal and I think we're both motivated to do it."

Elsewhere, the likes of 2018 silver medallist Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR/Van Deer), Marco Schwarz (AUT/Atomic), Stefan Brennsteiner (AUT/Fischer) and Atle Lie McGrath (NOR/Head) will hope to be among those in contention for the top three spots.

Who will take the crown on Sunday?

If the World Cup season is a guide, then it’s going to be unmissable in the women’s giant slalom. The leader of that with four wins from a possible eight is Julia Scheib (AUT/Rossignol), the Austrian building already on a couple of strong seasons before to sit in the driving seat. And if her Instagram post from this week is anything to go by, she’s ready to build.

With 560 points thus far, Scheib is the one to beat, but she’s part of a multi-national podium push. Of the top eleven in the standings, there are ten different nations represented, the only nation with two athletes in their being USA. Paula Moltzan (USA/Rossignol) is one, with Mikaela Shiffrin (USA/Atomic) the other.

For Shiffrin, the GS this year has been a tale of steadily building. After missing out on the medals in the team combined in the week, Shiffrin goes again without the weight of personal expectations. “In GS, it's been so cool to experience that kind of building momentum, building comfort. When I compared this season to last season, when I was returning from the injury and I couldn't imagine skiing faster GS, I couldn't imagine ever getting to a place where I could be contending for top ten, top five, let alone podiums in GS.”

Camille Rast (SUI/Head) sits in second in the World Cup standings at present, three podiums including first in Kranjska Gora at the start of 2026 behind her run of form. There is of course the might of the reigning Olympic champion to contend with too. Sara Hector (SWE/Head) reached the pinnacle in Beijing in 2022, and goes again this weekend.

Alice Robinson (NZL/Salomon) found herself eighth in the Super G, but will hold ambitions of a top three this time around, having won two GS World Cup starts already this season. “I think it's not going to be an easy GS. I think it's going to be tough, long, a lot of terrain.”

And could there be double delight for Italy’s Federica Brignone (ITA/Rossingol)? After claiming Olympic gold in the Super G on Thursday, Robinson wouldn’t be too shocked to see Brignone on a third successive Olympic Super G podium. “I think she's going to be pretty hot there too, so I'm going to have to be pulling all of my best tricks out to be in the mix there.”

Still to come at the Games

After the GS, it’s all over to Slalom to bring what has already been a historic Games in alpine skiing to a close. The men’s competition takes place on Monday, the first run beginning at 10:00 CET, with the women’s competition on Wednesday at the same starting time.

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