A fantastic day in Sestriere on Friday, February 21, with sunshine, clear skies, and an excellent turnout, well beyond expectations: an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 spectators attended the first of two Giant Slaloms in this three-day Audi FIS Ski World Cup Sestriere event.
A perfect day in every way, with Federica Brignone leading Italy to the top step of the podium. Second after the first run, Federica switched to turbo mode, overtaking New Zealand’s Alice Robinson, who had to settle for second. The third spot on the podium was claimed by Norway’s Thea Louise Stjernesund on the Kandahar G.A. slope in Sestriere. Following Lara Gut-Behrami’s (SUI) exit in the first run, Brignone extended her lead in the overall World Cup standings over the Swiss skier.
The top 20 featured Lara Colturi (7th), racing for Albania, and Italian athletes Sofia Goggia (13th) and Marta Bassino (18th).
The podium ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Sestriere, Gianni Poncet, Piedmont Region Councillor Marina Chiarelli, and the highly celebrated Alberto Tomba, who returned to Sestriere after his legendary achievements.
Saturday, February 22, will see the second Giant Slalom, with heats at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Starting at 4:15 p.m., the action moves to Piazza Fraiteve with music and entertainment, culminating at 6 p.m. with the highly anticipated performance by Andrea Casta, “The Space Violin”, as part of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Sestriere 2025 Pre-Concert.
The Giro d’Italia 2025 will also be presented at 5 p.m. on the same stage in Fraiteve Square, with Sestriere serving as the finish line for the penultimate and decisive stage of the prestigious race.
At 6:30 p.m., the official awards ceremony for Saturday’s Giant Slalom will take place, followed by the public drawing of Slalom bibs and the athletes’ catwalk. The evening will continue with the Laser Show at 7 p.m., and the ceremonial closing will once again feature Andrea Casta and “The Space Violin.”
As a reminder, both on Saturday, February 22, and Sunday, February 23, accredited guests can enjoy the races from VIP Zone 10 (grandstand and standing area). Non-accredited attendees can still view the races from Area 14, a free-access zone located on the right side of the racecourse.
The Sestriere races are broadcast globally by various TV stations with the broadcasting rights, including live coverage for Italy on Rai and Eurosport.
