Manuel Feller in Wengen, GEPA footage/Mario Buehner-Weinrauch
Austria’s Manuel Feller ended final season discouraged and with little enthusiasm. Now, he’s on prime of the world. Feller delivered the 2nd quickest closing run to win his first Wengen slalom. He rose from third to first on the second run. Feller has now gained three of the 4 slaloms this season. It’s his fifth slalom victory of his profession. Wengen is a slope identified to be totally different at each flip, however he skied it masterfully and earned his victory.
“It simply feels superb,” Feller stated. “I’m within the form of my life, the fabric is the perfect I’ve ever had.” He then thanked Atomic for the supplies.
The 2 quickest skiers from the primary run had not but skied when Feller crossed the end. The primary to threaten his victory was Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen. Right this moment Kristofferson skied the perfect he has all season and delivered the fifth-fastest second run however fell (+0.21) wanting taking the lead. Kristoffersen earned his first podium of the season.
“Two-tenths isn’t so much, however this brings confidence for certain,” Kristoffersen stated. “I can’t actually be free and ski how I need to as a result of the boldness isn’t one hundred pc there. Nevertheless it’s turning into higher and higher.”
The ultimate skier was first-run chief Atle Lie McGrath. He began the finale with a (-0.52) benefit over Feller however ended the race (+0.10) behind in 2nd place. The 2 additionally completed first and second within the final slalom race in Adelboden. McGrath held his lead till the ultimate timing sector however misplaced his pace to the end and was unable to win the race. It’s probably McGrath’s day is coming quickly. There are two extra basic slaloms within the subsequent ten days, and he’ll probably win one.
“I don’t assume I’ve ever been that terrified in my life, however I did a superb job,” McGrath stated.
“It’s a superb combat and he’s a superb buddy of mine, and I’m in his Norwegian fan membership as nicely,” McGrath stated. “Perhaps he may give me some hundredths on my aspect subsequent time.”
“It’s his (McGrath’s) fault that I’m successful as a result of I see how arduous he’s going in, particularly the steep elements, so I assumed after the primary run I have to go a bit of bit extra all-in if I need to catch these guys,” Feller stated.
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Second run positive factors
The second run of a slalom or big slalom race is essentially the most participating format in ski racing. Thirty qualify for the second run; the end order is reversed: the thirtieth racer runs first, and the quickest racers run final. It is a format that sees many lead adjustments. Nevertheless, normally, an athlete takes the lead and sees off a big variety of opponents till they relinquish the lead. Right this moment, the lead modified extra recurrently than typical. It made for a dramatic second run.
The scenario modified when the nineteenth skier, France’s Clement Noel, completed his race. The ten-time World Cup slalom winner crossed with a (-0.54) lead over Switzerland’s Loic Meillard and held the lead for the subsequent eight racers. He ended the day 4th (+0,44). It was the third quickest skier of the morning, self-discipline chief and in the present day’s winner who lastly displaced the French athlete. Through the afternoon, Noel moved up eight positions by delivering the quickest second run.
Nevertheless, like each race, there have been second-run winners and losers. The massive winners of the afternoon included Switzerland’s Loic Meillard, who gained ten positions to complete fifth. The athletes who improved their place the second most had been Noel and Stifle US Ski Group’s Ben Ritchie; each males gained eight positions.
USA’s Benjamin Ritchie
The 23-year-old Ritchie was the one North American to qualify for the afternoon run. He’s a proficient slalom skier who, final week in Adelboden, certified for the primary time within the 2023-24 season. Ritchie was the third skier to assault the second-run course. He constructed an enormous lead earlier than making a pricey mistake. Nevertheless, the proficient slalom skier crossed the end line with the lead. Ritchie held the lead for the next three racers and completed the day in twentieth (+2.21), tying his career-best World Cup consequence. It’s wonderful to see Ritchie returning to type.
After 20 racers didn’t end the primary run, solely one of many thirty didn’t in the course of the second.
The subsequent slalom World Cup is in Kitzbühel on Sunday, January twenty first.
In an exhilarating show of ability and willpower, Manuel Feller conquered the difficult Wengen slope, securing his first Wengen slalom win. The dramatic second run witnessed surprising lead adjustments, with Feller rising as the last word victor. Because the ski racing world anticipates the upcoming Kitzbühel occasion, Feller’s stellar efficiency provides pleasure to the season, setting the stage for extra thrilling competitions forward.
Present males’s World Cup Slalom standings
Prime 30 Wenge slalom outcomes and evaluation of the quickest three and Stifel US Ski Group’s Benjamin Ritchie
Evaluation of the quickest three and Stifel US Ski Group’s Benjamin Ritchie.
