United States' Mikaela Shiffrin, center, winner of an alpine ski, women's World Cup super-G, sprays sparkling wine as she celebrates on the podium with second placed Liechtenstein's Tina Weirather, left, and third placed Austria's Tamara Tippler, in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin, center, winner of an alpine ski, women's World Cup super-G, sprays sparkling wine as she celebrates on the podium with second placed Liechtenstein's Tina Weirather, left, and third placed Austria's Tamara Tippler, in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta) Credit: Giovanni Auletta

Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy— It’s been several seasons now that Mikaela Shiffrin has been taking over from Lindsey Vonn as the top racer on the U.S. Ski Team — and the overall World Cup leader.

The succession may have been completed on Sunday, when Shiffrin won a super-G and Vonn announced it might have been her final race on the circuit after failing to finish.

“You can make what you want of it,” Shiffrin said. “Because I won it and it’s her last race, I don’t necessarily think there’s some incredible connection on that, but I do think that it must be incredibly emotional for her to be in her final season.”

Vonn was planning on retiring in December. She returned this weekend from her latest injury — to her left knee — but her best result in three races was ninth in Saturday’s downhill.

Taking advantage of a tricky course set by one of her coaches, Shiffrin finished 0.16 seconds ahead of Liechtenstein’s Tina Weirather. Austria’s Tamara Tippler finished third, 0.18 behind.

Noel Takes Men’s Slalom

Wengen, Switzerland — Clement Noel held off a fierce Austrian challenge to win a World Cup slalom on Sunday for his first career win.

The 21-year-old Frenchman saw his first-run lead almost vanish before crossing the line 0.08 seconds ahead of Manuel Feller.

Marcel Hirscher had the fastest second run, yet still trailed Noel by 0.10 in third place.

Hirscher, who had won four of the five previous traditional slaloms this season, extended his lead in both the overall World Cup standings and the slalom discipline race.

In the finish area, Hirscher greeted Noel with a hug and congratulated him on an “amazing race.”