Winter sports - Petra Vlhova reigns supreme in Zagreb slalom, Mikaela Shiffrin takes silver on return

The Slovakian closes gap on World Cup leader Mikaela Shiffrin. The Slovakian made light of tricky conditions in the Croatian capital, which brought high winds and leaves blowing across the course, to come home in a total time of 1:56.99, half a second clear of Shiffrin. Shiffrin's silver was an impressive return on her first race back since contracting Covid-19.

Petra Vlhova started the new year as she had ended the old one by continuing her slalom dominance with victory in Zagreb.

The Slovakian made light of tricky conditions in the Croatian capital, which brought high winds and leaves blowing across the course, to come home in a total time of 1:56.99, half a second clear of Mikaela Shiffrin.

Shiffrin's silver was an impressive return on her first race back since contracting Covid-19 but she has now seen her overall lead cut to 115 points, while Vlhova stands 140 points clear in the slalom standings.

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The American recovered from an early wobble to come in just under two seconds quicker than Katharina Liensberger, who finished third, but Vlhova - who went last by virtue of setting the fastest time on the first run - was nigh-on faultless to claim World Cup victory in Zagreb for the third consecutive year.

"I just wanted to focus to ski clean because I knew a lot of girls had problems," she said.

"It was really tough. Conditions were not perfect. It is not easy to win so many races in a row and there is a lot of pressure from the outside.

"But I am just trying to create a bubble around me and I am so happy to win again."

The men's slalom takes place tomorrow (January 5).

Shiffrin's second run as she finishes second in Zagreb behind Vlhova

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