The Japan Times - Shiffrin misses chance to equal all-time record as Duerr wins slalom

The American won Saturday's first slalom at the Czech ski resort to move to 85 career wins, just one shy of Ingemar Stenmark's overall record of 86.

The 27-year-old was quickest on the opening run as she flew down the course in 44.66secs which was 0.67s quicker than second-placed Duerr.

The warning signals were there, though, when Shiffrin told German broadcaster ZDF after the first run: "I'm a little tired today, I'm trying to concentrate and save my strength".

Duerr responded with a sizzling second run of 45.58s, 0.05s behind Franziska Gritsch, for a combined time of 1min 30.91.

That was good enough to give the veteran German her eighth podium and her first win in a traditional discipline - Duerr's only previous World Cup victory came in the parallel slalom in Moscow in 2013.

“It took me a while (to win a classic World Cup race)," said the 31-year-old who made her World Cup debut in 2008.

"I just tried to risk it all. I had a little mistake in the flat and I just thought to go all in. So yeah, it is crazy that it happened today.

"It just feels special to win a World Cup race. This is the most special thing for me today that I am on top. I did not imagine this would be the case today but sometimes you have to even surprise yourself.”

- Consolation -

Shiffrin was last out of the gate and struggled for rhythm as she came down in 46.31s, an overall time of 1min 30.97sec.

“Lena deserved to win races," said Shiffrin. "She has been skiing amazing.”

Croatian teenager Zrinka Ljutic picked up third place, her first ever podium, after two good runs, which left her 0.49sec behind Duerr.

There was some consolation for Shiffrin, however, as she sealed her seventh discipline title in the slalom.

With two races to come and a maximum of 200 points for any challenger, she is 255 points ahead of the Swiss Wendy Holdener, eliminated in the first run on Sunday, and the Slovak Petra Vlhova who could only finish 13th.

"The last months have been non-stop. It has been so many amazing races, I do not expect to win every one," said Shiffrin.

"I didn’t expect to win 10 already this season. So after yesterday... and the first run today felt amazing.

"The second run maybe I didn’t risk enough to earn the win but to get second and on the podium and secure the slalom globe are amazing for me."

Shiffrin is also closing in on a fifth overall title but her bid to equal and pass Stenmark's record of 86 wins will have to wait until after the world championships.

Like Shiffrin, Stenmark relished the slalom and giant slalom with the Swede dominating the two disciplines from 1975 before retiring in 1989.

Shiffrin has bounced back in emphatic style after a nightmare Beijing Olympics last year where she failed to win a single medal.

She is heavy favourite to add to her haul of golds at next month's world championships in Courchevel and Meribel.

K.Hashimoto--JT