The National Times - Evergreen Brignone wins giant slalom to end Semmering drought

Brignone, who won the season-opening event in Soelden in October, led after the first run in Austria and finished 0.57 seconds clear of Sweden's Sara Hector to wrap up her 29th career World Cup victory.

"I'm again the oldest winner, I would like to beat my record once again," said Brignone. "I'm just trying to get better and better. I need to push my limit even higher every year."

Alice Robinson of New Zealand completed the podium, 0.90sec adrift, as defending World Cup champion Lara Gut-Behrami slid down seven places to ninth after a disastrous second leg.

"It was not easy the second run, but the slope was amazing. It's my first podium here in Semmering. It's an amazing Christmas and New Year's present to myself," said Brignone.

"Since the summer training sessions I've had a good feeling in the giant slalom... January is going to be a very busy month, there are the Italian stages which matter a lot to me," she added.

"I hope to continue this momentum and do better in the speed events, where I'm still lacking a little something."

Brignone replaced Switzerland's Camille Rast at the top of the overall standings on 319 points.

Gut-Behrami is 50 points behind in third, but the Swiss star has endured a challenging start to the season in the giant slalom and is still searching for her first win of any kind this campaign.

A late withdrawal in Soelden and 13th in Killington last month, Gut-Behrami looked on course to challenge for victory in Semmering before catching her left hand on a gate and losing her balance.

She will have the opportunity to make amends next weekend in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, before the circuit returns to Austria for a downhill and super-G in St Anton on January 11-12.

T.Hancock--TNT