Shiffrin faces Italian test in Cortina

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy: Mikaela Shiffrin’s sensational World Cup pace will be put to the test this weekend with Lindsey Vonn and the in-form Italian women skiers looking to impress at Cortina d’Ampezzo before next month’s Winter Olympics.

Shiffrin, the reigning Olympic and three-time world slalom champion, has been building momentum towards the Pyeongchang Games in South Korea, but the Italian women showed they are hitting form with Sofia Goggia leading a podium sweep last weekend in Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria. Two downhills — including one replacing the cancelled Val d’Isere leg in the French Alps — are scheduled on the slopes in the Italian Dolomites on Friday and Saturday with the Super-G on Sunday. Shiffrin charged to a remarkable eighth win in nine World Cup races in Flachau, Austria before taking last weekend off to train. The 22-year-old American has won nine of her last 10 races, including five in succession in the World Cup, putting her at the top of the competition standings.