Nina Ortlieb, centre, led an Austrian podium sweep in the super-G at the Alpine Ski World Cup in Kvitfjell ©Getty Images

Nina Ortlieb led an Austrian one-two-three in the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) Alpine Ski World Cup women's super-G race in Kvitfjell.

Blizzard-like conditions caused havoc in the Norwegian resort, particularly at the top, and many of the season's top performers struggled.

The race was also delayed when New Zealand's Alice Robinson in the number three bib crashed out, with workers on the Olympiabakken course attempting to clear the excess snow.

The conditions eased after that which favoured some of the later athletes, and it was Ortlieb, wearing bib 31, who laid down an unbeatable time of 1min 29.25sec.

Her compatriot Stephanie Venier had earlier recorded a time of 1:29.37 and took second place in the race.

Franziska Gritsch completed the Austrian podium sweep in 1:29.63, with Italy's downhill Crystal Globe winner Sofia Goggia forced to settle for fourth in 1:30.00.

This was the first all-Austrian women's super-G World Cup podium since 2019.

The United States' Mikaela Shiffrin's wait for a record-equalling win went on after she placed seventh in tough conditions in Kvitfjell ©Getty Images
The United States' Mikaela Shiffrin's wait for a record-equalling win went on after she placed seventh in tough conditions in Kvitfjell ©Getty Images

American Mikaela Shiffrin clinched the overall World Cup title with a fifth-place finish in the downhill yesterday, but her wait for an 86th victory on the circuit goes on after placing seventh in 1:30.23 in the super-G.

She has already broken the women's record for most World Cup wins this season, and needs one more to equal Sweden's men's slalom and giant slalom great Ingemar Stenmark.

Ortlieb recorded only her second Alpine Ski World Cup win and first since the La Thuile super-G in Italy in February 2020.

She acknowledged that the conditions had played a role in the day's racing.

"I was lucky today, I am sure that it was not fair for everyone," Ortlieb said.

"It was unbelievable.

"I knew at the start the conditions were getting better and better.

"After Alice crashed, it got crazy slow on the top because of the heavy snowfall.

"When I went up on the lift I thought 'wow it is snowing a lot', but then it got less.

"I got an opportunity and I skied well.

"I am happy that I am here today."

The women's super-G is set for a thrilling finish to the season at the Alpine Ski World Cup Finals in Soldeu, with Italy's Elena Curtoni leading the discipline standings ©Getty Images
The women's super-G is set for a thrilling finish to the season at the Alpine Ski World Cup Finals in Soldeu, with Italy's Elena Curtoni leading the discipline standings ©Getty Images

All seven women's super-G World Cups and the World Championships this season have featured different winners, meaning the battle for the Crystal Globe is set to be decided at the FIS World Cup Finals in Soldeu in Andorra on March 16.

Italy's Elena Curtoni has not won a super-G this season, but tops the standings with 332 points, followed by Switzerland's Olympic champion Lara Gut-Behrami, who lost ground on 313 after placing 20th in 1:30.75.

Curtoni was joint-12th with a time of 1:30.39.

Austria's Cornelia Hütter and Norway's Ragnhild Mowinckel remain in contention on 307 and 306 points after placing 14th and 15th, respectively.

Åre in Sweden is due to host a giant slalom and slalom on Friday (March 10) and Saturday (March 11) on the women's FIS Alpine Ski World Cup before the Finals in Soldeu.