The startlist of the second slalom in Zagreb: Shiffrin still forced to No. 7, Petra Vlhova will open

Thursday, with the start of the 1st heat at 15.00 and the second at 18.00, the two Croatian days close with a race that will see the American try to hook up with Lindsey Vonn: bib again unfavorable for the queen of the cup, also because the direct rival will be able to make the most of the No. 1. Swenn Larsson, today on the podium, will start with No. 2; five blue in search of points.

Wednesday 4 January 2023 6 minutes reading time

There isn't much time to recover because in Zagreb, or rather on the Sljeme hill not far from the capital, it's already time for slalom bis, the seventh of this 2022/23 World Cup. Thursday from 15.00 (the second is scheduled at 18.00, both live on Eurosport 1 and Rai Sport), off to the first heat on the "Crveni Spust" which today somehow held up to a disastrous weather situation in terms of temperatures, but that in a few hours he will further present the bill given that the situation will not improve in terms of temperatures, in particular for the opening run in the middle of the afternoon. Swedish layout and Anna Swenn Larsson will be second at the starting gate, to try to do even better than today's third place behind Petra Vlhova, who will anticipate her with bib number 1 and will really have a great opportunity to try to stay ahead and act as favorite for what would be the Slovak's first success of the season. Of course, despite the far from lucky draw again, having caught the n° 7 just like in race-1, the main candidate for the sixth hurrah in the "Snow Queen Trophy" is naturally Mikaela Shiffrin, in overflowing form and back from five victories in series in this CdM, on the run in all the classifications and with Lindsey Vonn there, to be able to hook up just tomorrow in case of success, at an altitude of 82 pearls in races of the maximum circuit. They will be the three reference points of the race, given that the Croatian slope is far from ideal for the characteristics of Liensberger and Holdener, today for different reasons, exits disappointed by the first slalom: the Austrian threw away at least one 4th place coming out at the end of the 2nd heat, the Swiss finished at the foot of the podium but didn't seem able to undermine Shiffrin, Vlhova and Swenn Larsson struggling to adapt to such a soft surface. The world champion and the multiple Olympic medalist will come out of the gate of the 1st heat for third and fourth, ahead of Lena Duerr, out today in the 1st heat when she was traveling really fast, and Ana Bucik who will have the 6 before Shiffrin. Second sub group opened instead by Leona Popovic, first of the two leading Croatians with Ljutic who will have number 17. Watch out for Nullmeyer with number 11 and Moltzan with number 12, for redemption like Dubovska and Hector, but after 6th place today even Camille Rast (who starts again at 20) could get excited. The Azzurri will have the same bib number as slalom number 1: qualifying mission for Martina Peterlini, derailed in the final of the opening heat when the return to the top 30 seemed like a done deal, with the thirty at the start for 33rd before Marta Rossetti, with number 38 to get back inside the 2nd heat and then attempt her classic comeback (which today earned her 19th place, the only Italian in the points). Della Mea, Tschurtschenthaler and Gulli will have to change gears, starting respectively with numbers 42, 43 and 50, when in terms of the track it will be very tough but it will be necessary to throw the heart over the obstacle to return to collecting results. CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE STARTLIST WOMEN'S SLALOM – ZAGREB Startlist 1st round: 1 Vlhova, 2 Swenn Larsson, 3 Liensberger, 4 Holdener, 5 Duerr, 6 Bucik, 7 Shiffrin, 8 Popovic, 9 Holtmann, 10 Troops, 11 Nullmeyer, 12 Moltzan, 13 Dubovska, 14 Hector, 15 Gisin , 33 Peterlini, 38 Rossetti, 42 Della Mea, 43 Tschurtschenthaler, 50 Gulli.

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