Gurgl 2025 Males’s Slalom Podium: GEPA photos
France’s Paco Rassat Wins HIs First World Cup in Thrilling Gurgl Finale
Paco Rassat delivered the run of his life on Saturday in Gurgl, successful his first World Cup slalom from bib 21 after unleashing the quickest second run of the whole area. The 27-year-old French skier attacked the course with fearless power and held off a late cost from the world’s greatest, claiming victory by .07 seconds over Belgium’s Armand Marchant — who himself stormed to his first World Cup podium from bib 23.
Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath, ranging from bib 5, accomplished the rostrum .09 off the successful time regardless of a dedicated last run. The highest three have been separated by lower than a tenth of a second in one of the dramatic finishes of the early season.
Rassat’s win marked the breakthrough second of his profession — and capped a day of relentless, unpredictable slalom drama.
“That is insane. I don’t know what to say — I’m simply very completely satisfied right now. My dream got here true. Final weekend in Levi helped my confidence and push, however to think about successful a World Cup… that’s one thing you’ll be able to’t management. The following race is in France, and I’ve by no means had a superb end result there, so I need to ski nicely, push exhausting, and see what occurs.”— Paco Rassat
A Wild Second Run Begins to Construct
The second run opened beneath principally clear skies, with crisp visibility and chilly, quick snow. Italy’s Tommaso Sala set the tone with a clear 52.90. Austria’s Johannes Strolz instantly surpassed him by .41, drawing the primary massive roar of the afternoon.
Then the lead modified arms once more — and once more.
Nice Britain’s Billy Main surged into first, incomes a full finish-area birthday serenade on his twenty ninth. Norway’s Oscar Andreas Sandvik, Bulgaria’s Albert Popov, and Austria’s Dominik Raschner every took activates high. Sweden’s Fabian Axel Swartz recorded the primary DNF. Veteran Dave Ryding skied easily however slotted solely into short-term seventh.
The early minutes made one factor clear: with so many skiers inside a second of the lead, the race was going to blow up as soon as the heavy hitters dropped in.
Austrian Hearth: Raschner +19 positions and Rueland Ignite the Dwelling Crowd
The mid-run produced two unforgettable Austrian performances.
Dominik Raschner delivered one of many greatest climbs of the day, rising 19 locations and finally ending as the highest Austrian. His aggressive, forward-driving snowboarding set a benchmark that held deep into the run.
Equally electrifying was Simon Rueland, ranging from bib 42. The younger Austrian attacked with complete dedication, hovering into the twelfth and sending the house crowd right into a frenzy. It was one of many day’s greatest and boldest second-run fees.
France additionally surged ahead. Victor Muffat-Jeandet climbed into podium place for a stretch, whereas Popov, Braathen, and Xmas stacked tightly behind.
And as this storm of motion settled, Rassat’s second run — a blistering 51.58 — grew to become the usual everybody needed to chase.
The Last Ten: A Gauntlet No One May Crack
The quickest ten from the primary run now confronted a brutal reality:the margins have been microscopic, and each tiny hesitation carried penalties.
Italy’s Alex Vinatzer kicked off the ultimate group and dropped to nineteenth. Austria’s Fabio Gstrein landed in sixteenth regardless of monumental crowd power.
Clément Noël, final 12 months’s Gurgl champion, attacked with sharp timing however may solely tie for twelfth — one other big swallowed by Rassat’s benchmark.
Austria’s Manuel Feller launched with urgency, feeling the second, however an over-aggressive transfer value him the velocity he wanted.Germany’s Linus Straßer, wanting wonderful on HEAD this season, crossed .76 again — quick, however not Rassat-fast.
Then got here one of many day’s fiercest efforts: Timon Haugan of Norway. His blistering snowboarding powered him into short-term third, .29 off, lastly making use of actual stress.
However even Haugan couldn’t dislodge the Frenchman.
Switzerland’s Tanguy Nef, the previous Dartmouth standout hungry for a primary podium, pushed all-in however misplaced velocity by means of the mid-pitch. He crossed .65 behind, ending fifth.
And with Nef’s time posted, the story grew to become official:
Paco Rassat — bib 21 — was assured the primary World Cup podium of his profession… with two racers nonetheless to return.
The Last Two — A Gorgeous Conclusion
Finland’s Eduard Hallberg, beginning with a .68 benefit over Rassat, regarded primed to problem for the win — till he skied out within the last sector. The group gasped. The rostrum image modified once more:
Belgium’s Armand Marchant, beginning bib 23, was now assured his first podium.
Solely Atle Lie McGrath (bib 5) remained.
The Norwegian star attacked with confidence, turning on highly effective transitions and exhibiting the sleek timing that carried him to earlier profession victories. However ultimately, Rassat’s second-run brilliance was unbeatable. McGrath crossed .09 behind, securing third however unable to steal the day.
The leaderboard froze. Rassat held. Marchant held.And a brand new identify stood atop the slalom world.
“I’m speechless. I come from such a small nation with no mountains, and my dad and mom did a lot for me. I’m simply extremely completely satisfied to dedicate this podium to them. It’s an incredible day. There are such a lot of feelings proper now. It’s been actually powerful with all of the accidents, however I at all times fought again to dwell this dream — a day like right now. You’re employed for this so lengthy, and now I can say it was actually price it.” — Armand Marchant
“It’s unimaginable, the extent in slalom proper now. You take a look at the highest 5 in Levi and the rostrum right here, and it reveals how troublesome this occasion is and what number of athletes are snowboarding quick. In fact it’s disappointing to return into the end and never see a inexperienced gentle — and much more disappointing to be third as a substitute of second, particularly being 9 hundredths away. However I’m very completely satisfied to be on the rostrum right now. It was a troublesome race, and mentally it was a problem for me after Levi. I’m completely satisfied to bounce again and ski on the stage I do know I can.” — Atle Lie McGrath
British Highlights
It was one other wonderful day for Nice Britain.
Billy Main climbed ten locations and completed seventeenth — celebrating his twenty ninth birthday with top-of-the-line performances of his profession. His early management and clear second run held sturdy towards a area filled with expertise.
Dave Ryding completed safely within the factors, including one other constant end result to Britain’s sturdy season begin.
Huge Movers of the Second Run
Dominik Raschner (AUT): +19 locations to sixth, high Austrian
Billy Main (GBR): +10 locations, finishes seventeenth
Simon Rueland (AUT): From bib 42 into the twelfth
Armand Marchant (BEL): From bib 23 to second, first profession podium
Quickest Second Run
Paco Rassat (FRA) — 51.58
Quickest second run of the whole area
Overcame a deep begin place
Delivered his first World Cup podium
Delivered his first World Cup victory
An Extraordinary Day for Males’s Slalom
Gurgl produced one of the thrilling, unpredictable slalom battles in current reminiscence. A winner from bib 21, a runner-up from bib 23, a podium separated by .09, enormous climbs from Raschner and Rueland, and a area that delivered assault after assault till the final racer.
Males’s World Cup slalom is formally on fireplace — and the season has solely simply begun.
Run Evaluation: Leaders, Certified British Skiers
Gurgl Slalom Males’s Outcomes
