The podium for the Women's Alpine Skiing World Cup giant slalom event in Courchevel, which saw Mikaela Shiffrin win a 72nd World Cup race ©Getty Images

Mikaela Shiffrin triumphed in the first of two Women’s Alpine Skiing World Cup giant slalom events in Courchevel in France.

American Shiffrin recorded the fastest time after the first run of 1min 05.55sec to put herself in a strong position to win the first of two scheduled giant slalom events on successive days at the French resort.

Shiffrin, who won gold in this discipline at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics, as well as silver in the combined event, then recorded the second-fastest time in the second run of 1:09.80 to record a total time of 2:15.35, enough for victory by 0.86sec.

Victory gave Shiffrin a 72nd World Cup win of her career, with second place going to Sweden’s Sara Hector.

Hector recorded the fastest time of the second run, 1:09.63, but her total time of 2:16.21 saw her settle for second behind Shiffrin.

The podium was completed by Michelle Gisin of Switzerland, who started strongly with the second-fastest time in the first run of 1:06.29.

However, Gisin had a disappointing second run and ended with a total time of 2:16.43.

Slovakia's Petra Vlhová finished fourth with a total time of 2:16.79, while France’s Tessa Worley ended fifth in 2:17.21.

Sofia Goggia of Italy, who triumphed in the Super-G discipline on Sunday (December 19) in Val d'Isère, did not finish her second run in Courchevel.

A second giant slalom competition is scheduled to take place at the same venue tomorrow.