Sofia Goggia wins super-G globe as Shiffrin’s overall lead shrinks

Italy’s Sofia Goggia has secured her first super-G crystal globe with victory in Kvitfjell, Norway, as the overall World Cup title race intensified.

The 2018 downhill Olympic champion claimed her third super-G win of the season in her trademark aggressive style.

Her triumph in the final women’s speed race of the season brings her career total to five crystal globes, adding to her four downhill titles.

Shiffrin’s lead cut in overall standings

While Goggia celebrated, the battle for the overall World Cup crown tightened dramatically ahead of the final week.

Germany’s Emma Aicher finished fourth on Sunday to cut American great Mikaela Shiffrin’s overall lead to just 45 points.

Shiffrin, chasing a sixth overall title to cap a remarkable season, failed to score after finishing 22nd.

The most successful World Cup skier of all time now has 1,286 points compared to Aicher’s 1,241, with a giant slalom and slalom remaining.

Goggia completes speed set

Goggia finished in the top 10 of all eight super-G races this season, including five podium appearances.

Her closest rival, New Zealand’s Alice Robinson, finished 16th on Sunday after narrowly avoiding a missed gate.

Robinson remained second in the final super-G standings, 163 points behind the formidable Italian.

Switzerland’s Corinne Suter was second in Sunday’s race, with Germany’s Kira Weidle-Winkelmann taking third.

“If you want to be a complete speed skier, you have to get both the globes in downhill and super-G,” Goggia said.

“Today I finally did it and I can say I’m a little bit more complete.”

Italian success in Norway

Goggia’s victory capped a triumphant weekend for Italy on the Norwegian slopes.

Laura Pirovano won Saturday’s downhill to secure the downhill crystal globe, finishing 83 points clear of Aicher.

The 28-year-old had never finished on a World Cup podium before March but won three consecutive downhills to claim the title.