Schwarz shines under the bright lights of Madonna di Campiglio with ‘Night Slalom’ victory

Marco Schwarz (AUT) joined ski racing luminaries – past winners who were present for the 70th Anniversary edition of the 3Tre Madonna di Campiglio races – with a thrilling, come from behind victory on the Canalone Miramonti slalom piste.

The Austrian all-rounder ascended from sixth after the first run with a well-executed, tactically smart second run to win the famed Italian ‘Night Race’ by 0.25 seconds over first run leader Clement Noel (FRA). Dave Ryding (GBR) rocketed from 15th after the opening run to finish third. Schwarz two-run winning time on the short, but demanding 447-metre piste was 1:40.51.

Schwarz vaults ahead of Marco Odermatt (SUI), who doesn’t race slalom, to the top of the overall World Cup standings by eight points with the win. He is the first Austrian to take top honors in the Brenta Dolomites resort since Marcel Hirscher won in 2017.

“For sure, it’s one of the best Christmas gifts so far – to win this classic here in Madonna is unbelievable,” Schwarz said, shortly after his sixth career World Cup victory. “It’s special to win here.”

Schwarz nabs his first victory of the season, following three runner-up results, having raced in all eight World cup races thus far heading into a well-deserved Christmas break.

“It’s been a tough season so far – a lot of races in the last couple of weeks, but my body feels good, and I’m comfortable with my skiing,” he said.

Schwarz was asked how exactly he has managed to ski so successfully across all disciplines.

“A lot of hard work and a big team around me so thanks to them all,” said Schwarz.

The 29-year-old Austrian is certainly off to a blazing start in his quest for a first overall World Cup title and a second slalom title, having previously won the small discipline globe in 2021.

He is two-for-two landing on slalom podiums this season, having finished runner-up to teammate Manuel Feller at a race in Gurgl in November. Schwarz now leads the slalom standings after two of 13 races by 35 points over Feller.

A Disappointed Frenchman

Noel, the 2022 Olympic slalom champion took command in the first run taking advantage of a relatively straight and fast course set grabbing a 0.37 second lead over joint second place finishers Timor Haugan (NOR) and Loic Meillard (SUI). After his fast opening run, the Frenchman blew kisses to the Italian crowd.

But Noel got bounced around all over the top of the Canalone Miramonti race hill and was no better than 18th among the 30-racer field in his second run.

“That wasn’t a sh**** second run, but an Ok second run – I thought I can do better today, but I will take this second place and try to go a little faster next time,” Noel said.

"Because to be behind someone who does downhill, super-G, giant slalom and now slalom I need to be faster – something is wrong,” he said, referring to the all-rounder Schwarz.

The 26-year-old from Val d’Isere still claimed his 21st career podium. Noel has finished runner-up in the World Cup season slalom standings three times – 2019, 2020 and 2021.

“January will be a very important month with all the classics and I’m happy about my skiing – I want to win the classic in Adelboden,” Noel said.

Fighting from behind at age 37

After a mistake-filled first run left him down in 15th place, but still within one second of the leader Noel after the first run, Ryding left it all out on the Canalone Miramonti slope in the 8:45 pm run. The 37-year-old British racer clocked the second fastest second run to climb 12 places to achieve his seventh career podium.

“I knew I was in a good position being just one second behind and I really like this hill – here and Kitzbuehel are my favorites,” Ryding said, interviewed in the bright lights of the Campiglio finish area.

“I really attacked at the top – I don’t know if I was going too straight, but it must have been a fast line," he said.

Despite being age 37, Ryding says no concrete decision has been made yet about possible retirement.

“The day before every race, I always think I’m too old for this, but then I fight like crazy on race day and I get on the podium. I’m just really happy to have my teammates, who are really pushing me every day,” said the British veteran.

“Every day I think about retirement at this age – I don’t know, I will decide in February or March. For now, it’s going good, so I just want to stay with this form and I just have to keep pushing, keep training.

The highlight of Ryding’s career still remains his lone World Cup victory in Kitzbuehel in January 2022. He noted the similarities between the marquee and always electric race venues.

“I really feed off the passion of the fans – when there is a night race with lots of fans, I just love these races and maybe that’s what gives me the extra few hundredths that I need” he said.

The Norwegian Haugan, who was tied for second with Meillard, after the opening run, narrowly missed his third World Cup podium, finishing fourth, just .02 seconds behind Ryding.

Attending the festive ‘night race’ under the lights in the historic Madonna di Campiglio racing stadium were three-time winner Alberto Tomba, 1972 and 1974 3Tre champion Piero Gros, Giorgio Rocca, the last Italian to win in 2005, Marc Girardelli, Bojan Krizaj, Thomas Sykora, and other stars from the world of skiing.

The men’s World Cup resumes after the Christmas break with speed races in Bormio, Dec. 28-29. The first technical races of 2024 will take place in Adelboden, Jan. 6-7.