Italian skier Federica Brignone wins giant slalom on home snow

Italian skier Federica Brignone won the first World Cup giant slalom after taking gold at the world championships on Friday, while Mikaela Shiffrin finished 25th in the American's first race in the discipline in nearly 12 weeks.

Brignone, who was ill over the past few days, beat runner-up Alice Robinson of New Zealand by 0.40 seconds in Sestriere, Italy, eight days after they also finished 1-2 in the GS at the worlds. Robinson remained in the lead of the discipline standings.

"I am feeling better since yesterday and I knew it was possible to make two good runs and this is what I tried today," Brignone said.

"The first run I didn't ski so good on the first flat, the second run I tried to keep the rhythm more high before this flat part and just to arc every single turn," the Italian added. "This was the only thing I was thinking."

Thea Louise Stjernesund came 1.57 behind in third. The Norwegian missed a medal at the worlds when she finished one-hundredth of a second behind Paula Moltzan of the United States.

WATCH | Giant slalom world champ Brignone claims World Cup victory:

Giant slalom world champ Federica Brignone claims World Cup win in home country

Motlzan stood third after the opening run but dropped to sixth after she came wide in a left turn in her second run and had to brake.

Defending overall champion Lara Gut-Behrami skied out off the course near the end of her first run.

Britt Richardson, of Canmore, Alta., recorded an 11th-place finish.

WATCH | Richardson just misses out on top-10 finish in Italy:

Alberta's Britt Richardson just misses out on top-10 World Cup giant slalom finish in Italy

Shiffrin, who trailed by 2.89 seconds in 18th after the opening run, finished 4.65 seconds off the lead.

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