
Wendy Holdener puts in a strong performance in the first run of the slalom in Courchevel, finishing second behind Zrinka Ljutic. Returning skier Mikaela Shiffrin also has the podium in sight.
Holdener, who started with the number two spot, was only beaten by Ljutic, who started directly after her. The difference between the Swiss and the Croatian, who is aiming for her third slalom success of the season after her victories in Semmering and Kranjska Gora, is 19 hundredths.
Shiffrin, who made her comeback after a two-month injury break, did not yet ski with her usual confidence. The 29-year-old American lost 87 hundredths to Ljutic, who is eight years younger. However, with 5th place and only 19 hundredths behind third-placed Austrian Katharina Liensberger, the podium is clearly within reach for Shiffrin.
Camille Rast did not have a good run. The discipline leader from Valais lost almost one and a half seconds on the best time on the course set by Swiss coach Denis Wicki and is in 10th place. Mélanie Meillard, who has always finished in the top 10 in the six slaloms so far, is also a considerable 1.94 seconds behind in 15th place.