Petra Vlhova pips Mikaela Shiffrin to the post in dramatic Levi victory

ByJen Offord

Updated 11/11/2017 at 13:46 GMT

Defending world champion and Olympic gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin was pipped to the post by Slovakia's Petra Vlhova as they started their World Cup slalom campaigns in Levi on Saturday.

In the first run of the slalom event, the American took a comfortable lead of +0.21 over Vlhova.

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Finishing her first run in 55.66, the 22-year-old was followed by Vlhova in 55.87, with Sweden's Frida Hansdotter third finishing in 56.39.

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But Vlhova's second run gave her a total time of 1:49.98 which Shiffrin was ultimately unable to compete with, losing her lead and some, finishing 0.10 seconds behind her rival.

Shiffrin falters as Vlhova wins in Levi

Switzerland's Wendy Holdener usurped Hansdotter in the second run to take third place with a total of 1:51.33.

Last season, Shiffrin won the seasonal slalom title, with Vlhova coming fifth in the standings.

Vlhova: Beating Shiffrin is the 'best day'

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Some way down the table, Great Britain's Charlie Guest finished her first run in 51st place with a time of 1:00.39, failing to qualify for a second run. GB team-mate Alex Tilley did not finish.

Results

1 VLHOVA Petra 1:49.98

2 SHIFFRIN Mikaela 1:50.08

3 HOLDENER Wendy 1:51.33

4 HANSDOTTER Frida 1:52.15

5 MEILLARD Melanie 1:52.56

6 DUERR Lena 1:52.76

7 SWENN-LARSSON Anna 1:53.16

8 BRUNNER Stephanie 1:53.18

9 BUCIK Ana 1:53.24

10 GAGNON Marie-Michele 1:53.46

11 KIRCHGASSER Michaela 1:53.50

12 HUBER Katharina 1:53.55

13 HOLTMANN Mina Fuerst 1:53.73

14 WIKSTROEM Emelie 1:53.76

15 GISIN Michelle 1:53.93

16 FEIERABEND Denise 1:53.94

17 ST-GERMAIN Laurence 1:53.96

17 FERK Marusa 1:53.96

17 SKJOELD Maren 1:53.96

20 WIESLER Maren 1:53.97

21 STIEGLER Resi 1:54.13

22 MOELGG Manuela 1:54.21

23 GALLHUBER Katharina 1:54.25

24 THALMANN Carmen 1:54.37

25 ALPHAND Estelle 1:54.39

26 NOENS Nastasia 1:54.47

27 MIELZYNSKI Erin 1:54.51

28 COSTAZZA Chiara 1:54.53

29 DUBOVSKA Martina 1:54.61

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