Mikaela Shiffrin masters tough course conditions for win 92 - ESPN

LIENZ, Austria — Mikaela Shiffrin held on to a big first-run lead to win a women's World Cup giant slalom amid tough course conditions Thursday for the American's record-extending 92nd career victory.

Shiffrin lost most of her advantage as she skied a rather conservative final run, posting only the 17th fastest time. But it was enough to beat Federica Brignone by 0.38 seconds, a result that sent the Italian to the top of the discipline standings.

Sara Hector, the Olympic GS champion from Sweden, dropped from second after the opening run to third, trailing Shiffrin by 0.45.

«The second run was great skiing with a little bit more space,» said Shiffrin, who lost 1.25 seconds on Brignone in that final run.

«Federica, a few more gates and she would have probably taken it. So, that's the next thing to learn for the coming races: you have to push in the second run.»

It was Shiffrin's 22nd career win in GS, but first this season. The American is third in the discipline standings, 80 points behind leader Brignone and 45 behind Lara Gut-Behrami. The Swiss skier finished sixth Thursday.

«I was like, now I want to win it but I also really don't want to mess it up, that would be so disappointing. So, it was a little back and forth in my thoughts,» Shiffrin said about trying to maintain her first-run lead. «Every (GS) race, I feel more comfortable and I think I have a really good focus with my skiing that can be simple. I can hopefully repeat it more and more races, so I'm super happy with the progress.»

Shiffrin positioned herself for the victory with a dominant first run, earning her an advantage of 0.63 seconds over Hector and 1.63 over Brignone.

«When I came through the finish, I didn't expect it would be this much ahead, so I'm