Kristoffersen wins the first slalom World Cup after the Olympics

Yet another World Cup slalom race that does not lack excitement. So far this season, there has been a different winner at each of the seven slalom World Cup races. Since the World Cup slalom in Schladming (AUT), athletes travelled to Beijing (CHN) to compete in the Olympic Games, where Clément Noel (FRA) claimed gold. Now back in Europe, all is to fight for in the slalom World Cup standings where the top thirteen athletes are all within 100 points of each other.

Heading out of the gate first, Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) laid down an excellent first run which saw him at the top of the leader board until bib 25. Tanguy Nef (SUI), finished 0.07 seconds ahead of the 2020 slalom globe winner, and for the first time in his career, was leading the pack. Swiss compatriot, Loic Meillard, who has been having a very consistent slalom season so far, was in 3rd place, only 0.08 seconds behind the leader.

Disappointment led for the Norwegian duo, Sebastian Foss-Solevaag and Lucas Braathen, as neither managed to complete their first run. Foss-Solevaag won bronze in the slalom in Beijing, whilst Braathen is currently leading the slalom world cup standings.

The pressure was on in the second run, as athletes tackled the hill one by one to improve their final time in hope of claiming victory. After finishing 5th in the first run, Manuel Feller (AUT), skied fast and hard to claim 3rd place and his third slalom podium finish of the season. The Austrian has yet to win a slalom World Cup race so far this season and is definitely eager to do so.

Claiming his first slalom podium finish of the season, Meillard put down a solid second run which saw him finish 2nd, with a 0.14-second deficit on the leader. This was Meillard’s best slalom result since Saalbach in 2018 where he had also placed 2nd.

With only Kristoffersen and Nef left to head down the course, all eyes were on them. Both made a big mistake in their run, however, only Kristoffersen was able to recover. After making a big mistake in the upper half of the course, Kristoffersen managed to recentre himself and finish his run. Nef, unfortunately, did not manage to recover from his mistake and therefore didn’t manage to finish his run. Claiming his first slalom victory of the season, Kristoffersen also claimed his twentieth slalom World Cup victory.

Racing starts up again tomorrow as athletes tackle the hill in the second slalom in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER). The first run is scheduled to start at 09:10 CET, with the second run scheduled to start at 12:30 CET.