Shiffrin wins Flachau night slalom in U.S. one-two

Mikaela Shiffrin reclaimed the top step in World Cup slalom on the floodlit Griessenkar in Flachau, extending her unprecedented tally to 107 World Cup wins and spearheading an American one-two as teammate Paula Moltzan finished second. Shiffrin’s night victory, achieved in demanding icy and rutted conditions, reinforced her season-long dominance and focused attention on the U.S. team's medal potential as the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics approach.

Shiffrin set the tone with the fastest opening run, a 56.22 that put her 0.19 seconds clear of Moltzan. She produced a sharp, controlled second run to post a combined time of 1:50.52, finishing 0.41 seconds ahead of Moltzan on a course described by race reports as having artificial rolls and heavy grooves late in the night. Austria’s Katharina Truppe took third, 0.65 seconds behind, while Switzerland’s Camille Rast, last week’s Kranjska Gora winner who had interrupted Shiffrin’s slalom streak, finished fourth at +0.67.

Crowds packed the slope under the lights, transforming a technical course into a spectacle that tested precision and nerve. Shiffrin, who has now recorded her 70th World Cup slalom win and her sixth victory on Flachau’s slope, acknowledged the atmosphere after celebrating with Moltzan. "That was exciting. This is insane how many people are here. It's so cool! Thank you for coming," she said, then praised the hill itself as "super hard and really rewarding to ski well" and admitted that there were "some grooves for sure" as the track built up. Reflecting on a recent setback in Kranjska Gora, Shiffrin said the loss taught her "how important it is to get more comfortable with high speed in Slalom," a lesson she and her team addressed in training.

Moltzan’s runner-up finish is a milestone for the American squad and for her own career. It was her third World Cup podium of the season, her first slalom podium this campaign, and her eighth career World Cup podium overall. "I'm very grateful to be closing the gap to Mikaela, which has kind of been the goal all season," Moltzan said, underlining a steady rise that leaves her still in search of a first World Cup victory but establishes her as a credible Olympic contender.

Beyond the headline results, the race underscored broader trends in alpine skiing. Shiffrin’s longevity and adaptability continue to set benchmarks for athlete career arcs in a sport that rewards technical refinement as much as raw speed. The American one-two also signals growing depth in U.S. women’s skiing, a valuable asset for national federations and sponsors as attention turns to the Olympic fortnight.

The night format itself amplified the sport’s spectacle and commercial appeal, with packed stands and vivid lighting translating to compelling broadcast moments that drive fan engagement. As the World Cup season narrows toward the Olympics, Flachau’s result not only padded Shiffrin’s record books but also intensified narratives about preparation, rivalry, and the marketplace for elite winter athletes. The immediate takeaway for the U.S. team is clear: momentum, experience, and crowd-tested composure are now on their side as they move toward Milano Cortina.