LILLEHAMMER, Norway - Italy's Laura Pirovano captured her first women's World Cup downhill Crystal Globe on Saturday, winning the final race of the season in Lillehammer.
The 28-year-old claimed her third consecutive downhill victory, including two wins on home snow in Val di Fassa. She finished with 536 points, ahead of Germany’s Emma Aicher at 453.
Aicher started the day 28 points behind but could only manage fifth, falling 83 points off Pirovano’s lead.
American Breezy Johnson, the Olympic and world champion, finished second in the race-0.15 seconds behind-to take third overall. Germany’s Kira Weidle-Winkelmann placed third in the event.
Pirovano dedicated her win to her father, whose birthday it was. "I was afraid to watch the time," she said. "I was so surprised to see the green light."
It was a sweep for Italy, as Dominik Paris won the men’s downhill earlier. The 36-year-old earned his 25th World Cup win and 20th in downhill, edging Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen by 0.19 seconds. Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr took third.
Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt secured both the men’s downhill and overall World Cup titles. On the women’s side, Sofia Goggia is poised to claim the super-G Globe, with Alice Robinson failing to start the final downhill.
The season concludes Sunday with the final super-G races. Mikaela Shiffrin remains in contention for a sixth Overall Globe.