Redemption for ‘comfortable’ Noel who holds off charging Kristoffersen in Levi

The last time the men’s slalom specialists raced an Audi FIS World Cup in Levi, Finland, Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) skied a brilliant second run to deny Clement Noel (FRA) victory. But five years later, the Frenchman made sure history was not repeated as he held off his rival to at last secure victory in Lapland.

Despite professing to struggle – like much of the field – down the slick, turney morning set Noel was once again leading the field after a ‘Black Levi’ slope run one.

And this time, the reigning Olympic men’s slalom champion was able to defy the afternoon pressure heaped on by Kristoffersen (NOR) and win a World Cup for the first time since January 2023.  

Eleventh after run one, Kristoffersen’s barnstorming afternoon efforts propelled him into second place (0.80 seconds behind Noel), with a smooth-looking Loic Meillard (+0.95 seconds) completing the podium.

For the second race in a row after returning to the World Cup circuit this season, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA) produced a pair of highly encouraging runs to end just off the podium.  

With the defending men’s World Cup slalom champion Manuel Feller (AUT) straddling a gate in run two and fellow big gun Linus Strasser (GER) fading to seventh, it was all smiles for Noel.

“Really, really great day to start to the season. Really, really happy about my second run. The feeling was way better for me in second run than in first run,” said Noel, who was second quickest in the afternoon, just 0.21 seconds behind Kristoffersen.

“First run I was quite surprised to be in the lead because I was not really comfortable on the snow but then in the second run I was way better. I changed a few things on my set up and I was way more comfortable in the steep part.

“It was some quite good skiing I think. I knew that Henrik set the bar high in the pitch, he skied, really, really well. So, I just tried to push really hard because I knew it was tight.”  

Not quite tight enough in the end for Kristoffersen who happy to give the plaudits to the Frenchman.

“Clement was definitely one step better than us today,” Kristoffersen said, before reflecting on a statement second run that improves his Levi record to two wins, three second places and a third.

“The second run was more to attack. It was still missing a few points but it was solid skiing and that’s what was important to do today for me.

“To finish on the podium is really amazing.”

Meillard, who missed the season opening giant slalom race in Sölden last month after tweaking his back, could not agree more.

“Definitely a great start. It showed I can ski fast and that I am ready for the next races. It (his back) felt good in training. I knew I should try to go for it.”

It completes a great weekend for the Meillard family, with Loic’s sister Melanie having finished seventh in the women’s slalom on Saturday.

For Braathen a second fourth-place effort in a matter of weeks shows that he is once again ready to challenge the very best.

“To be able to go back-to-back on top results in my return is one hell of a relief,” Braathen said. “To be able to now have kicked off not only the giant slalom season but the slalom season in such a respectable manner is such a relief.

“This might have been the slickest race that I’ve ever skied in my life, so I was really proud of how I was able to convert that, to be able to handle it. Just such a cool day.

“I am looking forward to the next time, let’s hope for some more green lights. I am more than ready (to win).”

Further down the field, Tanguy Nef (SUI) put down his best ever World Cup performance, grabbing fifth. One place behind came 26-year-old Steven Amiez (FRA). The rising star now has four top-10 finishes to his name in the past 12 months.

The returning Marcel Hirscher (NED) would love a record like that right now. The anticipation was certainly palpable when the three-time Levi winner came out of the gate in run one wearing bib No.31. But 2,070 days away from slalom racing proved too much even for him.

“This morning's training went really well, and I felt great. The first few gates during the race also felt good. I had grip, and everything was on track,” Hirscher said. “But at the ninth gate, where the roller was, I thought to myself, ‘OK bye-bye’.

“From there, it was a fight all the way down. I’ve never seen conditions this icy before—it was sheer, solid ice.”

The 35-year-old ended up 46th after run one. A result that left him questioning whether he is yet prepared for these type of challenges.

“Yesterday, I was certain I’d go to Gurgl (the next men’s slalom World Cup race, on 24 November). Today, I’m not so sure. It’s clear that I’m not 100% ready. I need to work on finding grip, but we’ll have to see the video analysis to see what can be improved.”