The Slovak Petra Vhlova in 58.51 is in command of the first run of the cdm special slalom in Sestriere.
Behind her the Swiss Wendy Holdener in 58.75 and the American Mikaela Shiffrin in 58.84.
The Italian team performed well on their home snow in the discipline in which there is a team that needs to be completely rebuilt.
Best blue was the Friulian Lara Della Mea, excellent 9/a in 1.00.14 with bib number 38 and first Italian at the start.
Anita Gulli, 22nd in 1.01.05 with bib number 47, Vera Tchurtschenthaler, 25th in 1.01.29 with bib number 39, and Lucrezia Lorenzi 27th in 1.01.44 also classified for the second heat. bib 45. Out of time instead Beatrice Sola in 1.02.22, while Marta Rossetti did not finish the race.
Classified for the second heat - 30th in 1.01.53 - also the 16 year old Italian Lara Colturi who skis for Albania.