Mikaela Shiffrin is happy after winning the super-G in Bansko in Bulgaria ©Getty Images

The International Ski Federation (FIS) Alpine Ski World Cup returns to Russia for the first time since 2013 at Rosa Khutor for the women’s downhill and super-G races.

The event at this resort was cancelled last year due to heavy snowfall.

After two training runs for the women’s downhill were cancelled, all the action for the event is due to take place tomorrow and the super-G competition is scheduled for Sunday (February 2). 

Italy's Elena Curtoni and American star Mikaela Shiffrin took downhill wins in Bansko in Bulgaria in the previous leg, leaving them fourth and second in the overall downhill standings.

The discipline leader, Switzerland’s Corinne Suter, struggled but did have a strong showing in the super-G last time out.

Ester Ledecká also struggled in Bansko after a strong start to the season in the downhill, with the Czech's best finish being 20th place over the weekend.

Ester Ledecká during the women's downhill in Bansko in Bulgaria ©Getty Images
Ester Ledecká during the women's downhill in Bansko in Bulgaria ©Getty Images

With four races left, her form will need to turn around if she is to move up from third in the table.

Shiffrin took her first event wins of the season in the downhill and the super-G last time out, propelling her to the top of the standings in the latter and extending her overall World Cup advantage.

Italy's Federica Brignone is second overall, having placed second and third in last weekend's downhill races, but she failed to finish in the super-G.

Fellow Italian Marta Bassino was second and Switzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami third, with Gut-Behrami’s bronze lifting her to fourth in the super-G standings behind Germany's Viktoria Rebensburg, who has finished only 10th and 12th since winning the opening event in Lake Louise at the beginning of December. 

Suter is second in the super-G standings; with three different winners so far from three events, super-G is a very open competition.