Vlhova returns to the top of the podium with slalom gold

Petra Vlhova overcame a disappointing season to clinch gold in the final women's slalom race of the campaign in Soldeu. The Slovakian finished in a combined time of 1:51.38 to pip Leona Popovic and Mikaela Shiffrin to the top spot.

Ad Shiffrin's bronze in Andorra saw her equal Lindsey Vonn's career record of 137 alpine world cup podiums. Soldeu'Settled those butterflies' — Vlhova finishes strong to take final race of season over Shiffrin2 HOURS AGO But it was Vlhova who bounced back from a see-saw season to prove her reigning Olympic champion status.

«I am super happy to finish the season like this,» she said. «You know my season was up and down and just one victory this season in slalom, some podiums.

»The last race I was DNF but I felt good, so I wanted to come here, to show my skiing in the last races and to have a good feeling for the next season." Popovic clinched her first-ever World Cup podium with silver, crossing 0.43 seconds behind Vlhova and a further 0.43 seconds ahead of Shiffrin. Shiffrin finished top of the slalom overall standings following the final race of the year, with Switzerland's Wendy Holdener in second and Vlhova in third.