Reigning Olympic Slalom Champion Clement Noel returned today in Levi to the Top of the podium thanks to two sensational runs. After setting the best time in the first run, he maintained his lead with an impressive second run, only challenged by Kristoffersen's flawless second run.
Noël has 11 World Cup Slalom victories and 25 podiums to his name but he was looking for his first win since his victory in Schladming on 24 January 2023.
"I made mistakes in the first run. The second run was very good and I was fast. I changed a few things on my set up and I was way more comfortable in the steep part. I knew that Henrik set the bar high in the pitch, he skied, really, really well. So, I just tried to push really hard because I knew it was tight. It was a good race and it was a nice day for me. I'm happy that I can already show my best skiing," Noel said.
Henrik Kristoffersen finished 0.85 seconds behind the Frenchman, repeating his position from the Giant Slalom season opener in Sölden. The Norwegian jumped from eleventh place to second place with the fastest time in the second run.
"The first run wasn't great but then I changed the set-up slightly and then I had more grip. Noel was incredible, but I was faster in the second run. I'm happy with the second place, of course, I wanted to win, but it was 100 percent a step in the right direction," Kristoffersen said.
Loic Meillard completed the podium in third place, 0.95 seconds behind. Having to retire from the race in Sölden due to a disc injury, Meillard managed to claim a place on the podium, his 22nd in the Alpine Ski World Cup.
"I'm very happy, although there is room for improvement in the second run. After a few days of training, I didn't really expect to leave Levi with a podium finish. However, I am afraid that the next few days are going to be a bit less fun for me. As soon as the adrenaline wears off, I'm pretty sure my back will start to hurt," Meillard said.
Like in Sölden, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who now competes for Brazil, came 4th with starting number 33. The 24-year-old finished 1.05 seconds behind the winner.
"What a relief. Two good results in a row on my comeback is special. It was a difficult race here on the ice. Only technique counts. I have an explosive style, so the ice suits me. I'm ready for my first podium," Braathen said.
Marcel Hirscher's return to the Slalom did not go as expected. The eight-time Overall World Cup champion failed to qualify for the second run in Levi on Sunday, finishing 2.59 seconds behind the first-run leader, Clement Noel.
"The first few gates were OK. But then it quickly turned into one of the worst slalom runs of my life. I had no grip, it was really painful. It was absolutely not what I had hoped for," Hirscher said in an ORF interview.
"But that's how it is. It was clear that when you come back after such a long time, there will be days when you're not doing well," he added.
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