In another exciting Salom race in Schladming, just three days after his victory in the classic in Kitzbühel, Linus Strasser wins his fourth career World Cup Slalom. He finished ahead of Timon Haugan (+0.28) and Clement Noël (+1.02). It's his 9th podium in Slalom in the Alpine Ski World Cup.
The 31-year-old German skier became the first German to achieve the double of Kitzbühel and Schladming. Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen was the last one to achieve the double in 2016.
The last German skier to record back-to-back Slalom World Cup wins was Armin Bittner, in January 1990. His second of those victories came in Schladming.
The last German to win two World Cup races in a row was Thomas Dressen in February 2020. He won the Downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and Saalbach-Hinterglemm.
It's the second time Linus Strasser won the Night Slalom in Schladming. He won in the Austrian ski resort in January 2022.
Strasser is fourth-most among German skiers in Slalom wins behind Felix Neureuther (11), Bittner (7), and Christian Neureuther (6).
"It's unbelievable, I took the momentum with me. Skiing is also a mental thing, and I'm finding it easy at the moment. I feel 'bulletproofed' at the moment. A win like that is just a snapshot, but there's a lot of work behind it that the others don't notice. That's actually what's best for me", Strasser said.
"It's wonderful to win a race for the second time that Felix Neureuther didn't win", he added.
Timon Haugan finished in second position to confirm is one of the most consistent Slalom skiers in the World Cup this season. Until Kitzbühel, DNF2, Timon Haugan, 6th in Gurgl, 4th in Madonna di Campiglio, 9th in Adelboden, and 9th in Wengen, was the only skier besides Manuel Feller to have finished inside the Top-10 in all Slalom World Cup races this season.
"It's amazing. To see the green light coming down in the second run was the craziest feeling I've ever had. Here in Schladming, this is truly special", Haugan said.
"It's a process. I've been on the World Cup for a few years now and every year taking new steps. I just try to push the limit in every training to see how good I can become, and now it's paying off", he added.
Clement Noël finished in third place achieving his second podium of the season. Previously he has finished in second position in the Night Slalom in Madonna di Campiglio. The Olympic Champion in Beijing celebrated his 22nd World Cup podium in Slalom.
"It was not my best second run for sure but in the end, I'm happy with the third place. Sometimes I'm disappointed with a third place but with time I'm learning to be happy. When you do a podium in Schladming you can't be disappointed", Noël said.
Manuel Feller, 5th today, continues leading the Slalom standings with 440 points. Linus Strasser is second with 308, and Timon Haugan is third with 228.
Comentários