Raphael Haaser won the gold medal in the Giant Slalom at the Alpine World Championships held in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. 34 years after Rudi Nierlich's victory, Haaser also sensationally won the Giant Slalom at the home World Championships in Saalbach. In front of 19,500 enthusiastic spectators, the 27-year-old Tyrolean climbed from fifth place in the first run to first place. The Swiss duo of Thomas Tumler and Loic Meillard completed the podium by securing silver and bronze, respectively. This victory marks Haaser's second medal at Saalbach 2025, as he previously earned a silver medal in the Super-G event.
This is Austria's ninth gold medal in the Men's Giant Slalom event at the World Championships. Marcel Hirscher won the last gold medal for Austria at the Alpine World Ski Championships in St. Moritz in 2017.
Haaser had never won or stood on the podium in a Giant Slalom event in the Alpine Ski World Cup.
"It's unbelievable, I've never been at the top of a World Cup race before and now I'm here at the home World Championships, even in the giant slalom. I don't know what to say, it's huge. When things are going well, things are going well. Let's hope it continues like this. I said I have nothing to lose. I've never been so good. It was a very good run" Haaser said.
Tumler was delighted with the podium finish. He felt he had achieved his goal.
"I was on the limit. There is no such thing as tactics. My main goal was the podium and I had to make up six tenths. You have to give it your all - either it works or it doesn't. My World Cup victory was sensational. And today, in my most important race of the season, being on the podium was sensational. It somehow worked out, I'm super happy," Tumler said.
Meillard, who won gold in the Team Combined with Downhill world champion Franjo von Allmen, fell from second place in the first run to third place. "It's always gone well here, and again today. It was a very good first run. At the moment I'm disappointed, more was possible. But after the race I'm sure I'll be satisfied. In the end it's my fifth World Championships medal. There's still another chance," Meillard said.
The 28-year-old has a brilliant record in Saalbach. In December 2018, he claimed his first World Cup podiums in both the Giant Slalom and Slalom, finishing 2nd in both races. Then in last season’s World Cup Finals, he won the Giant Slalom and came 2nd in the Super-G. In total, in his six World Cup races in Saalbach, he has a win, three 2nd places, a 4th, and a DNF.
"I like this hill; I know it isn’t difficult, but it's tough to ski fast. You must ski clean and constantly push," he added.
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