The race in Semmering is the last ladies’ World Cup slalom race in 2016. So far only three women have won a race this calendar year: Mikaela Shiffrin, Veronika Velez-Zuzulová and Nina Løseth. This could be the third time in four years there have been only three different winners in this event. In 2013 Tina Maze, Marlies Schild and Shiffrin divided all victories among them and in 2015 Petra Vlhová, Frida Hansdotter and Shiffrin claimed all first podium places available.
Mikaela Shiffrin can win her seventh World Cup slalom race in a row. The only women who have achieved such a streak are Vreni Schneider (8 in a row from 1988-1989) and Janica Kostelic (8 in a row from 2000-2001). The last winner of a slalom race besides Shiffrin is Veronika Velez-Zuzulová when she won in Flachau in January. Shiffrin did not compete in that race. Shiffrin has won the last 11 World Cup slalom races in which she started and 13 of the last 14. The only exception in this run is her third-place finish in Flachau in 2015. The last time Shiffrin failed to make the podium in a World Cup slaom race in which she competed was in Åre in December 2014 (fourth). Only Marlies Schild (35) and Vreni Schneider (34) have won more ladies’ World Cup slalom races than Shiffrin. At 21 years of age, Shiffrin has won 25 World Cup races in total. Only Annemarie Moser-Pröll (41) won more among women before turning 22. Currently 1.25 at Pinnacle to win the whole race.
Wendy Holdener finished in second place in the World Cup slalom race in Levi, in third place in Killington and in third place in Sestrière. There were her fifth, sixth and seventh podium finishes in World Cup slalom races, but she has yet to win one. Only one woman has claimed more podium spots in this event without winning a World Cup slalom race, Malgorzata Mogore Tlalka (8). The last woman from Switzerland to win a World Cup slalom race was Marlies Öster in Berchtesgaden in 2002. Coming into the races in Semmering, Holdener has won two World Cup races: the city event in Stockholm last February and the alpine combined in Lenzerheide last March. Currently 12.00 at Bet365 to win outright.
Veronika Velez-Zuzulová won two World Cup slalom races last season, both in Flachau. She also won the last World Cup slalom race in Semmering, winning in December 2012 – her first-ever victory. Velez Zuzulová could join Janica Kostelic, Marlies Schild and Pernilla Wiberg on winning a record two World Cup slalom races in Semmering. She can become the second oldest woman to win a World Cup slalom race, following Marlies Schild. Velez-Zuzulová will be 32 years and 167 days on 29 December. Schild was 32 years and 212 days when she won the slalom in Lienz in December 2013. Currently 11.30 at Pinnacle to win outright.
Betting prediction 1: Veronika Velez Zuzulova podium finish
Odds: 1.83 Bet365
Betting prediction 2 (event match-ups): Veronika Velez Zuzulova vs Wendy Holdener : Veronika Velez Zuzulova
Odds: 1.877 Pinnacle
Betting prediction 3 (event match-ups): Lena Duerr vs Bernadette Schild : Bernadette Schild
Odds: 1.83 Bet365
Previous winter sports betting previews:
Women’s Giant Slalom – Semmering 2016
Men’s Slalom – Madonna di Campiglio 2016
Ski Jumping – WC Ruka 2016
