Alpine skiing
DSV drivers without a top spot – activists disrupt in Gurgl
Was not satisfied with his performance in Gurgl: Linus Straßer. photo
© Expa/Johann Groder/APA/dpa
After three cancellations, the Alpine ski racers are finally starting the World Cup winter. At the slalom in Tyrol, the German aces are not able to achieve a podium place. Activists disrupt the race.
The German slalom riders around co-favorite Linus Straßer missed out on a top spot at the start of the World Cup in Gurgl. In the slalom run in Gurgl in Tyrol, the Munich native came in ninth place on Saturday.
The Austrian hosts celebrated a triple success: Manuel Feller won ahead of Marco Schwarz (+0.23 seconds) and Michael Matt (+1.05). Straßer was one and a half seconds short of victory and half a second off the podium. Sebastian Holzmann came in 15th (+2.05).
“Very disappointing”
Purely in terms of placement, the result was “very disappointing,” said Straßer on BR television. But there was “very, very good stuff” in terms of skiing. The 31-year-old made a big mistake in both the first and second rounds and lost a lot of time. “I knew before the race that I wasn’t quite at the level I wanted to be at to be at the front. But they are good steps, I’m on the right track.”
After the giant slalom at the start of the season in Sölden had to be canceled and the two downhill runs on the Matterhorn were canceled due to bad weather, the slalom in Gurgl in the Ötztal was the first complete men’s race this winter. And for the Austrians it was a home triumph. The Tyrolean local hero Feller celebrated the third victory of his World Cup career. Anton Tremmel, Linus Witte and Fabian Himmelsbach were eliminated from the German team in the first run.
Interruption by activists
Shortly before the race was decided, activists caused a disruption that lasted several minutes. Several people ran towards the finish and smeared the snow with orange paint. Security forces led them away and at least one person was dragged from the target lying down. The area was then cleaned of paint – while the remaining five drivers had to wait at the start for their second run.
The fans along the route acknowledged the protest with boos. Top driver Henrik Kristoffersen from Norway cursed wildly at the activists and had to be held back by supervisors, as could be seen on TV images. Apparently he wanted to approach the demonstrators completely upset.
Result