Starting with the 7th fastest time at the end of the first run won by the Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen, the Frenchman Clément Noël won the slalom in Schladming (Austria) on Tuesday night. He beat the Swiss Ramon Zenhausern (+0’7) and the Norwegian Lucas Braathen (+0’38). With a fault, Kristoffersen missed his second run and finished 11th, 1’33 behind the Frenchman.
This is the first victory this season for the Vosgien, his second podium only after third place in Garmisch, yet lacking in confidence after several abandoned rounds. But from the start, he stayed true to his attack-oriented philosophy, with a lot of speed and didn’t break down. The Olympic champion in the discipline set the 8th time in the second run, enough to get on the first step.
Steen Olsen best time of the second run
It was the young Norwegian Alexander Steen Olsen (21) who set the best time in the second round and thus made the best comeback with 11 recovered places (tied with the Spaniard Joaquim Salarich who ranks 15th). This victory, Noël obviously owes it to his skiing but also to the disappointments of his opponents (he moved up 6 places).
The Austrian Manuel Feller (4th) and the Swiss Loïc Meillard (5th), who started second and third respectively after the first round, each lost two places.
Noël was the only Frenchman in the second round as Alexis Pinturault, Paco Rassat, Steven Amiez and Théo Letitre failed to pass the cut in the first round.