Clement Noël secured his fourth Alpine Ski World Cup win of the season in Kitzbuehel. Alex Vinatzer took second place, trailing the Frenchman by only 0.09 seconds. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen came in third, 0.19 seconds behind Noël.
It's Noel's second win in the Ganslernhang after his 2019 victory. He secured a second-place finish in 2020.
Reigning Olympic Slalom Champion Clement Noël has 14 World Cup Slalom victories and 28 podiums to his name. With today's victory, Noël moves to second place on the list of France’s most successful World Cup Slalom skiers. Perrine Pelen holds the record with 15 wins.
The 27-year-old French skier has regained the lead in the Slalom standings, now 29 points ahead of Henrik Kristoffersen. Loic Meillard holds third place with 370 points. Both the Norwegian and the Swiss did not earn any points today.
"Kitzbuehel has been my favorite for a long time but the last time I won here was in 2019, six years ago and then I struggled a lot on this hill in the last few years. So, it’s really crazy for me to win here today. I feel that I am at 100 percent for sure. At the moment, this is the best season I have ever had, with four victories. I just hope that I can continue in the same way and enjoy it," Noel said.
"Of course, my biggest goal of the season is still the World Championships in Saalbach but Kitzbuehel is just behind. It’s so important for me. So, I am really happy to win here," he added.
With the second-fastest time in the second run, Alex Vinatzer climbed up from 11th to second place, marking his best result in 70 World Cup Slalom races. It's his third podium finish in the Alpine Ski World Cup.
Before today, a 10th in Val d’Isere in December was his best result this season.
"It’s been quite some time. I knew I was always fast but it was difficult to continue believing in me after so many mistakes and DNFs. Here in Kitzbuehel, putting down one great run, makes me so happy. I cannot wait to hug the whole team. I would have signed everything to be on the podium today," Vinatzer said.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who was second in 2023 and third in 2022 in Kitzbuehel, was close to claiming the first World Cup victory for Brazil but a few mistakes left him a mere 0.19 seconds behind the leader, in third. He is already the first Brazilian to climb onto a World Cup Slalom podium, having finished 2nd in Adelboden. It's his third podium this season, the second one in the Slalom.
"Honestly, I was so disappointed and just to say for the record, I would be proud of a fifth in Kitzbühel or a sixth-place or whatever… but I have a third and I have a second on this hill and it’s my dream to walk out with a Golden Gam one day. It’s missing on my shelf back home and I wanted it so bad," Pinheiro Braathen said.
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