Podium / GEPA pictures
Aicher Shines Through the Fog to Claim Tarvisio Super G Victory
Emma Aicher of Germany delivered a confident performance to win the women’s Super G World Cup in Tarvisio on Sunday, securing the second Super G victory of her World Cup career in extremely challenging conditions.
Heavy fog blanketed the start area and upper section of the course, severely limiting visibility from the opening gate. Conditions began to improve roughly twenty seconds into the run, but the early section demanded complete trust in course inspection and instinct. As visibility increased lower on the track, athletes were finally able to attack more freely, yet it was those who committed from the top pitch and carried speed through were the ones that ultimately found success in Tarvisio.
Aicher managed the difficult opening pitch better than anyone in the field, attacking with precision while maintaining control through the most technical section. As the light improved mid course, the German racer carried strong speed onto the gliding section, continuing to build momentum and ultimately stopping the clock with a time no one could match.
The victory marks another major step forward in Aicher’s rising World Cup career and highlights her growing confidence in the speed disciplines. With two Super G World Cup wins now to her name, she continues to establish herself as a consistent podium contender. Equally impressive is her versatility, as she has also found World Cup podium success in slalom and giant slalom, confirming her status as one of the tour’s most complete four event skiers.
Despite the demanding weather, the Tarvisio race delivered dramatic racing, with tight margins and constant movement on the leaderboard as athletes struggled with the limited visibility at the top of the course.
For Aicher, clarity came when it mattered most, executing a flawless run through the fog to capture another World Cup victory.
TARVISIO,ITALY,18.JAN.26 – ALPINE SKIING – Emma Aicher (GER). Photo: GEPA pictures/ Harald Steiner
Top 6- Tarvisio, ITA
- 1st Emma Aicher 🇩🇪- 1:14.04
- 2nd Lindsey Vonn 🇺🇸- (+.27)
- 3rd Ester Ledecka 🇨🇿- (+.94)
- 4th Romane Miradoli 🇫🇷- (+1.04)
- 5th Keely Cashman 🇺🇸- (+1.11)
- 6th Sofia Goggia 🇮🇹- (+1.13)
Visibility and Conditions Shape the Tarvisio Super G
Fog remained thick through the opening turns before athletes emerged into clearer visibility, revealing a fast, flowing Super G that rewarded aerodynamics and commitment to a clean ski. The course set followed the natural terrain of the hill and allowed the race to develop smoothly, while mild temperatures kept the track firm, but if you were outside that track the snow was wet and slow. The decisive section came through the three gates exiting the pitch and onto the gliding section. Athletes who failed to execute their line there did not bring enough speed on to the flats and had little opportunity to regain it further down the course.
Experience and Excellence on the Podium
Lindsey Vonn delivered another impressive performance, skiing with determination and confidence on the demanding top pitch, where her strength, tactical execution, and beautiful position on the ski were on full display. While she did not exit the pitch with quite the same speed as Aicher, Vonn remained tight, compact, and perfectly connected from top to bottom, producing a clean and controlled run to finish second and secure her place back on the World Cup podium. The result marked the 49th Super G podium of her career and her seventh podium in eight races this season. Remarkably, Vonn’s first World Cup podium came in 2004, just one year after Emma Aicher was born.
“I felt disappointed in the way I skied the bottom,” Vonn said. “We had a course report and the coaches told me to take that line, and I don’t think it was the fastest. But if I can fight for the Super G Globe as well, that would be amazing. I obviously feel really confident in downhill, and today was a good step in the right direction for Super G and gives me confidence heading toward Milano Cortina.”
Ester Ledecká completed the podium in third place with an aggressive and confident run. After a series of disappointing results in recent speed races, the Czech star skied with clear determination, attacking every section of the course while carrying strong speed from start to finish. Her performance was a reminder of her exceptional talent and versatility, as she continues to compete at the highest level in both alpine skiing and snowboard racing. Ledecká now owns four career Super G World Cup podiums, including two victories, with her most recent win coming at the Saalbach Finals in 2024.
“I was happy about having fun on my skis — that was the main point of the day,” Ledecká said. “I was even afraid to get the time. I didn’t even want to know if it was fast or not — it was just fun.”
TARVISIO,ITALY,18.JAN.26 – ALPINE SKIING – Lindsey Vonn (USA). Photo: GEPA pictures/ Matic Klansek
TARVISIO,ITALY,18.JAN.26 – ALPINE SKIING – Ester Ledecka (CZE). Photo: GEPA pictures/ Matic Klansek
Cashman Sparks North American Momentum in Tarvisio
Keely Cashman delivered one of the standout performances of the day, skiing into an impressive fifth place with a run built on intelligence, confidence, and speed. After a difficult downhill result the day before, Cashman showed clear resiliency, choosing smart lines, staying aerodynamic, and attacking the course with purpose. She exited the pitch smoothly, carried strong speed onto the gliding section, and remained clean and aggressive all the way to the finish. Her split times continued to improve throughout the run, reflecting her growing confidence and strength in Super G.
“I just tried to stay patient at the top, trust my inspection, and really commit once the visibility opened up,” Cashman said. “It felt good to put together a solid Super G run and build some momentum again. My dad has been traveling with me this season and it’s really been a game changer mentally on race day to have his support. I’m super happy with this result building into the Olympics and really eager for more.”
TARVISIO,ITALY,17.JAN.26 – ALPINE SKIING – Keely Cashman (USA). Photo: GEPA pictures/ Harald Steiner
It was another strong day overall for the North American team. Canadian, Valérie Grenier continued to build momentum, skiing smoothly and cleanly into 14th place from bib 29 with a smooth, aerodynamic performance.
Jackie Wiles also impressed with confident, committed skiing, finishing 19th from bib 51 as she continues to build form and improve her Super G ranking.
Rookie Allison Mollin once again showed her potential, charging from bib 47 into 20th place with another fast and fearless run, consistently delivering strong performances with a positive presence in the finish area.
Breezy Johnson finished 25th from bib 32, showing clear improvement despite a few small mistakes. The veteran bettered her previous Super-G result in Val d’Isère, where she placed 39th, pointing to positive momentum moving forward.
Haley Cutler rounded out the North American effort with a solid run of her own. Using her strong gliding ability to her advantage, she gained time in the lower section to finish 27th from bib 46, continuing her steady progression in the discipline.
Robinson Walks Away from Heavy Tarvisio Crash
It was a disappointing day for the New Zealand athlete, Alice Robinson, who entered the race as the overall leader. A major crash in the final section ended her run abruptly when she came off the jump off-balance, landed in the wrong direction, and spun out violently. Fortunately, Robinson was able to ski away under her own power — a reassuring sight after one of the more aggressive crashes seen on the circuit this season.
Known for her fearless, all-out approach to racing, Robinson once again showed her toughness simply by standing up and walking away. While she will undoubtedly be sore, her resilience was on full display, and her fighting spirit remains unquestioned.
TARVISIO,ITALY,18.JAN.26 – ALPINE SKIING- Alice Robinson (NZL). Photo: GEPA pictures/ Matic Klansek
Looking ahead and Goggia to Wear Red Bib in Crans-Montana
With her sixth-place finish in Tarvisio, Sofia Goggia moves into the lead of the Super G overall standings and will wear the red leader bib when the tour resumes in Crans-Montana on January 31. The women’s World Cup now shifts to Kronplatz, Italy, on January 20 for a giant slalom, setting the stage for another pivotal moment in an already tightly contested season.
Race Results
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Analysis of the Top Three and Other North Americans in the Top 30
