Italian skier Federica Brignone wins World Cup season opener in Austria

Italian skier Federica Brignone won the women's World Cup season opener Saturday in Soelden, Austria, after first-run leader Mikaela Shiffrin dropped to fifth.

The American posted only the 27th-fastest time in the second run of the giant slalom and finished 1.61 seconds off the lead.

Brignone defeated Alice Robinson of New Zealand by 0.17, while Austrian skier Julia Scheib trailed by 1.08 in third for her first career podium result.

Britt Richardson was the top Canadian finisher, ending up 2.54 seconds back of Brignone for 17th place.

"That was for sure not what I was expecting," Brignone said. "This is incredible, for sure, Soelden is one month before all the rest of the season for me, so I will have to work hard, still. This is an amazing start of the season."

Defending overall champion Lara Gut-Behrami decided shortly before the start to skip the race.

Analyzing her second run, Shiffrin said her timing was off.

"If I miss the timing, then I'm just kind of fighting against the tracks the whole way down. This hill, if you are fighting it, then it is so slow," said the American, who was aiming for her record-extending 98th career win.

Losing her lead, Shiffrin even finished behind American teammate Katie Hensien, who placed fourth for her career-best result in her first race back from a year-long injury layoff.

Another American, Nina O'Brien, finished seventh and also had a career-best result in her first World Cup race in 19 months after recovering from a fractured left lower leg.

Paula Moltzan placed 11th for what was the strongest team result for the U.S. women's team in a World Cup giant slalom since 2000, according to a team spokesperson.

Shiffrin wasn't flawless in the opening section of the first run but beat her