'The best I've ever shown': Feller wins third slalom of the season

All of a sudden, the victories keep piling up for Manuel Feller (AUT) — and he has Atle Lie McGrath (NOR) to thank for them.

Feller won his third slalom race in four attempts this season in Wengen on Sunday, just topping McGrath for the second week in a row in what is fast becoming one of the most exciting rivalries on the World Cup tour.

After besting the young Norwegian by two-hundredths of a second last week in Adelboden, Feller came from behind to defeat McGrath by ten-hundredths on Sunday, with Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR, +0.21s) in third place.

"It's his (McGrath's) fault that I am winning because I see how hard he is going in, especially the steep parts, so I thought after the first run I need to go a little bit more all-in if I want to catch these guys," Feller said.

"Especially in Adelboden and also today, I probably need to thank him for pushing me, because if he wouldn't have pushed that hard in the first run, I would think I can go a little bit easier.

"I think it's a good battle for the crowd."

Despite just missing out on victory again, McGrath, 23, has nothing but admiration for a rival that he has long looked up to.

"It's a good fight and he's a good friend of mine, and I'm in his Norwegian fan club as well," McGrath said. "Maybe he can give me some hundredths on my side next time."

Feller might not be so keen to concede even the tiniest of advantages, however, as he surges towards his first crystal globe with a lead of 153 points over McGrath.

At age 31, the Austrian has discovered a level of consistency that he has never previously displayed on tour. Just last season, his results in 10 slalom races were all over the place: two podiums, two DNFs and three results outside the top 10.

But this season, he has already won more World Cup races (three) than in all previous seasons combined (two), and has been in the top five in all four slalom contests.

"It just feels amazing," Feller said. "I'm in the shape of my life, the material (equipment) is the best I've ever had.

"In skiing you say, 'If it runs, it runs,' and what's going on right now, the skis are working really good and the skiing is probably the best I've ever shown."

In third place after the first run, Feller put down an aggressive second-run charge to take over top spot from long-time leader Clement Noel (FRA, fourth) and throw down the gauntlet to the two Norwegians still left to ski.

Kristoffersen failed to dislodge him but bested Noel to move into second, leaving McGrath alone at the top of the mountain with a 0.52-second advantage over Feller coming out of the start gate.

"I don't think I've ever been that terrified in my life, but I did a good job," McGrath said of his second run, which was relatively clean but lacked the aggressiveness of Feller's challenge.

"I just lost my momentum on the end and sometimes that's the routine, instead of going super hard and making mistakes, I skied smart and almost won."

McGrath's runner-up performance pushed Kristoffersen into third for his first podium of the season, as the veteran's equipment setup seems to finally be in order after a difficult opening to the campaign.

"Two-tenths is not a lot, but this brings confidence for sure," the three-time World Cup slalom champion said.

"I can't really be free and ski how I want to because the confidence is not 100 per cent there. But it's becoming better and better."

And although the Feller-McGrath rivalry is currently the talk of the slalom world, Kristoffersen signalled that he is not out of the chase for a potential fourth slalom globe, despite currently sitting in seventh spot in the standings.

"It's eight more slalom races to go, I could be dangerous," the 29-year-old Norwegian said, looking ahead in particular to the next two famous slalom races.

"Schladming is also a big goal, Kitzbuehel is also a big goal. Every race there is a possibility to fight for a new podium and win."

Click here for full results from Sunday's race.