Swiss skier Sue Pillar takes victory, third place on the podium for Italian athlete Laura Steinmair
The second day of women’s Alpine Skiing European Cup giant slalom races concluded today in Sestriere, bringing a prestigious international event back to the slopes of the Vialattea ski area. Two days of competition that represented an important opportunity for sporting comparison and territorial promotion.
The race took place on the Kandahar Giovanni Alberto Agnelli course, made even more challenging and selective by unstable weather conditions. Strong winds delayed the start of the second run and put the athletes to the test, but did not compromise the regular running of the event.
Swiss skier Sue Pillar claimed victory in this second European Cup slalom in Sestriere, finishing 10 hundredths of a second ahead of Swedish skier Hilma Loevblom, who had already placed third the previous day.
An excellent result for the Italian team: South Tyrolean skier Laura Steinmair stepped onto the third step of the podium, producing a spectacular comeback of 14 positions in the second run. Italy also secured 5th place with Sophie Mathiou from the Aosta Valley. A disappointing outcome for teammate Carole Agnelli, who led after the first run but had to settle for an 11th-place finish.
“The Women’s Alpine Skiing European Cup is a flagship event among the major international sporting competitions hosted by Piedmont again this year, thanks to the expertise and prestige of its Organising Committee. It is also an opportunity for the many visitors and fans to discover the extraordinary richness of tourism, landscapes and gastronomy that the area offers alongside the sporting event,” said Paolo Bongioanni, Regional Councillor for Trade, Agriculture and Food, Tourism, Sport and Post-Olympics, Hunting and Fishing, and Parks of the Piedmont Region.
“Snow characterised the first day of competition and today the wind really put us to the test,” added Gualtiero Brasso, head of the Sporting Club Sestrieres Organising Committee. “However, thanks to teamwork and the professionalism of all those involved, we managed to successfully complete this edition. I would like to thank the FIS for the trust it has always placed in our Organising Committee, the Piedmont Region and the Municipality of Sestriere for their concrete support, as well as the ski instructors, whose contribution was crucial in preparing the course.”
With the races now concluded, the repeated snowfall that accompanied the European Cup weekend offers optimal conditions throughout the Vialattea ski area, with well-covered slopes ready to welcome tourists and ski enthusiasts.
