ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Slovakian skier Petra Vlhova took a big lead in the opening run of women’s World Cup slalom in tough race conditions on Tuesday.
Mikaela Shiffrin trailed by more than six-tenths of a second in second place upon her return to competition following a positive COVID-19 test and missing two races last week.
Vlhova opened the slalom in 55.99 seconds on the Crveni Spust course, where the soft snow surface and gusts whipping up eddies of leaves made for challenging conditions.
Shiffrin, who was only cleared to race on Monday, started seventh and last of the elite group. The American finished .64 seconds behind and was one of only three racers to finish within a second off Vlhova’s lead.
Vlhova won the last two editions of the traditional first slalom race of the calendar year. The Slovakian has won 10 of the last 16 slaloms, and three of the four this season.