These are the days of Linus Straßer: After his triumph in Kitzbühel, the German model driver also won the night slalom in Schladming.
Slalom spectacle in the pole forest in Schladming – and right at the front: Linus Straßer. Just three days after his triumph in Kitzbühel, the 31-year-old from Munich won the legendary night slalom in front of 30,000 spectators on Wednesday (January 24, 2024). He had already won on the Planai two years ago.
This time he triumphed ahead of the Norwegian Timon Haugan (+0.28 seconds) and last year’s winner Clement Noel from France (+1.02). Straßer is the first German since Armin Bittner in 1990 to win two consecutive world championshipscupwinning in the slalom. Overall it was his fifth Worldcupvictory – and a historic one at that: no German ski racer had previously managed to win both in Kitzbühel and Schladming in one season.
“Moments for life”
“Kitzbühel won, Schladming won: That’s unbelievable“said Strasser. “These are moments for a lifetime, as I said in Kitzbühel. I’m just enjoying them now“His simple recipe for success?”At the moment it’s easy for me to concentrate on the important things. I stand well over the skis and have a good sense of my position.”
Last year, Straßer was eliminated in the first round in Schladming. This time everything should fit together again. Also co-favorite Manuel Feller, who is already three out of five in the world in the slalomcupAfter winning the race this season and only finishing fifth this time, Straßer couldn’t stop him. This means that the German slalom specialist is also reducing the gap to Feller in the worldcup-Scoring of 132 points.
Straßer sets the time
Straßer laid the foundation for his second success on the Planai with the best time in the first run. With starting number three early, he benefited from the conditions that were still good at the time. After his technically strong ride, rain set in, making the slope increasingly soft. The competition bit their teeth at his 50.46 seconds. Only Haugan was able to really put Straßer under pressure and was only 0.1 seconds behind. Noel followed in third. “I was fully committed at the start and implemented my plan well – a flawless ride“said Straßer after the first run.
Before the finale the rain had increased again, which increased the chances for the lower placed drivers to attack the front again. Local hero Fabio Gstrein showed how it worked, who had a strong second run on the very twisty course and was able to gain a whopping 16 places. The top 10 ultimately benefited from significantly better conditions, but initially no athlete was able to take advantage of this to make a leap forward. On the contrary: two podium candidates, Alex Vinatzer (Italy) and Atle Lie McGrath (Norway), were eliminated early.
Close duel between Haugan and Straßer
Only Olympic champion Noel made it to the top as the third-to-last starter. Only Haugan and Straßer were still at the top. The Norwegian coped well again, moved into first place thanks to a courageous drive and set the bar extremely high for Straßer. He didn’t get off to the best start, but then went on full attack. The courage was rewarded. Straßer gradually expanded his lead and brought his second victory at the atmospheric event Nightrace to the target.
“If it works, it works“, said the 13-fold world happilycupwinner Felix Neureuther at the finish with the winner. “Linus is like that cool remained. He’s just with himself, he’s clear, it’s just good.“It’s easy for Straßer himself at the moment”totally simple“To bring the races successfully to the valley.”I’m currently savoring the momentum.“
Holzmann “too unclean” in the final
In addition to Straßer, Sebastian Holzmann (SC Oberstdorf) made it to the final in 20th place. There, the 30-year-old was unable to confirm his performance from the first round and lost a lot of time at the first gates and on the steep slope. Because a few athletes were eliminated afterwards, he was able to make up one place.
Nevertheless, Holzmann was annoyed by his performance, which had much more potential. “Everything actually worked out. In the end I let it get the best of me and didn’t dare to push through. That was too unclean.” Nevertheless, he went to the world for the sixth time in a rowcupPoints. The other German drivers did not succeed. Anton Tremmel (SC Rottach-Egern/+4.30) and worldcup-Debutant Nikolaus Pföderl (SC Lenggries/+5.73) only had a spectator role in the second round.