Austrian skier Scheib locks up World Cup giant slalom title

Austrian skier Julia Scheib locked up the women's World Cup giant slalom title Saturday, winning the penultimate race of the season in Are, Sweden, after first-run leader Camille Rast skied out.

The victory gave Scheib an insurmountable lead of 189 points over her Swiss rival in the GS standings.

"It feels very special, winning the giant slalom globe has been a goal of mine for many years. To achieve it today means a lot to me, said Scheib, the ninth Austrian winner of this globe but the first since Eva-Maria Brem took it in 2016.

Scheib denied Paula Moltzan a first career victory, finishing 0.36 seconds ahead of the American. Alice Robinson of New Zealand was 0.75 behind in third.

Austria’s Julia Scheib wins giant slalom race and Crystal Globe in Are, Sweden

Mikaela Shiffrin improved from 12th following a costly mistake in the opening run to finish fifth and protect her lead in the overall standings.

Shiffrin lost just five points on Germany's Emma Aicher, who finished the race in a career-best fourth, and won 55 points on Rast.

Shiffrin now leads Aicher by 120 points and Rast by 223 and could increase her lead in Sunday's slalom, which is the American star's strongest event.

Britt Richardson was Canada's lone skier in the event, but did not finish the race.

Canada's Britt Richardson stumbles to 1st DNF of giant slalom season

After this weekend, only the World Cup Finals with four races remain.