Julia Scheib makes it three with commanding Semmering giant slalom victory

Austria’s Julia Scheib continued her superb form in the 2025/26 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup by claiming her third giant slalom victory of the season in front of an enthusiastic home crowd at Semmering. The 27-year-old delivered another composed and technically polished performance to secure top spot on Saturday, 27 December, reinforcing her status as one of the standout skiers of the winter so far.

Scheib posted a combined time of 1 minute 56.46 seconds across two runs, a benchmark none of her rivals could match on a demanding course that tested precision and control. The triumph marked her second home win of the season, following her success in Sölden at the opening round, and sparked jubilant celebrations among Austrian fans lining the slopes.

Switzerland’s Camille Rast finished second, just 0.14 seconds behind Scheib after two consistent runs. Sweden’s Olympic champion Sara Hector completed the podium in third place, 0.40 seconds off the lead, earning her second top-three finish of the campaign. The tight margins at the top underlined how competitive the women’s giant slalom field has been this season.

American star Mikaela Shiffrin ended the race in sixth position, 1.45 seconds behind the winner. While she was unable to challenge for the podium, the result still represented a solid showing as she continues to balance her programme across multiple disciplines this winter.

Scheib’s victory also had major implications for the season-long standings. With maximum points from her latest win, she moved ahead of New Zealand’s Alice Robinson to take the lead in the giant slalom discipline rankings with 380 points. Robinson had been leading the standings before Semmering but saw her chances disappear after skiing out during the first run.

The opening run set the tone for an exciting contest. Hector laid down an early marker, edging into the lead by the narrowest of margins. At the halfway stage, she was just 0.02 seconds faster than Scheib, with several other contenders still within striking distance. The fine margins reflected the technical difficulty of the course and the high level of skiing on display.

Shiffrin showed early speed in the first run but had a nervous moment when she narrowly avoided skiing out. Although she stayed upright, the mistake cost her valuable time and left her with a deficit of 1.16 seconds heading into the second run, making a podium push difficult.

Scheib, meanwhile, approached the second run with confidence. Already a winner this season in Tremblant, she skied with authority and fluency, finding the right balance between aggression and control. Her clean lines through the gates and strong finish proved decisive, as she extended her advantage and put pressure on those still to ski.

None of the remaining competitors were able to match her pace, confirming Scheib as the winner and sending the home crowd into celebration. Rast’s controlled performance secured second place, while Hector once again demonstrated her class to finish third.

Behind the podium, Canada’s Valerie Grenier narrowly missed out on a top-three finish in fourth place, followed by Poland’s Maryna Gasienica-Daniel in fifth. Italy’s Lara Della Mea and Sofia Goggia finished seventh and eighth respectively, with Norway’s Thea Louise Stjernesund and Germany’s Lena Dürr rounding out the top ten.

With three giant slalom victories already this season, Scheib has established herself as the athlete to beat in the discipline. As the World Cup campaign progresses, she will aim to maintain her momentum, while her rivals look for ways to challenge her growing dominance in one of alpine skiing’s most fiercely contested events.