Clement Noel dominated the slalom World Cup in Gurgl, securing his second victory of the winter season. Despite a few mistakes in his final run, he finished 43 hundredths of a second ahead of Kristoffer Jakobsen. DSV racers struggled, with Linus Straßer missing the second run after a disappointing performance, while Sebastian Holzmann and Alexander Schmid also failed to qualify. Overall, it was a challenging day for the German team, contrasting sharply with Noel’s success.
Clement Noel Dominates Slalom World Cup in Gurgl
Clement Noel showcased his exceptional skills by clinching the slalom World Cup title in Gurgl, building on his recent victory in Levi. Meanwhile, ski racer Linus Straßer faced a challenging day on the slopes, struggling to perform and ultimately missing the cut for the second run, similar to his fellow DSV teammates.
Noel’s performance at Gurgl solidified his status as a frontrunner in slalom racing. The talented French skier, who had previously triumphed in Levi, successfully secured his second slalom victory of the winter season. He entered the final run leading by nearly a second and maintained that advantage until the finish line.
Mixed Fortunes for DSV Racers
The second run proved to be more thrilling, as Noel made a few mistakes, unlike his flawless first run. In the end, he crossed the finish line with a winning margin of 43 hundredths of a second over Sweden’s Kristoffer Jakobsen, with Atle Lie McGrath trailing just 0.88 seconds behind. McGrath faced a particularly frustrating moment, finishing just one hundredth of a second shy of second place.
Unfortunately, the DSV racers failed to make their presence felt on the podium. Linus Straßer, who started the race with the number one bib, found the pressure overwhelming. After finishing seventh in Levi, he aimed for an improved performance, but mistakes in the steep sections cost him dearly. “It was really bitter because I realized at the top that I was just following the ski,” he expressed to the ARD microphone. “I tried to stay in until the last gate, but it wasn’t fun.” He is eager to move on from this disappointing weekend, recalling a previous struggle in Val d’Isere three years ago when he also failed to make the top 30.
Adding to the disappointing results from the German team, Sebastian Holzmann also fell short. The Oberstdorfer skier was nearly three tenths faster than Straßer in the first run but was unable to qualify for the second attempt. Anton Tremmel narrowly missed out as well, falling just one hundredth of a second short of Swiss racer Ramon Zenhäusern. With Alexander Schmid finishing in 41st place, none of the DSV racers progressed to the second run.
This World Cup was equally forgettable for Manuel Feller, the defending champion from Austria, who was eliminated in both Levi and Gurgl. Newcomer Lucas Braathen also took excessive risks, resulting in his exit from the competition. Furthermore, Marcel Hirscher, who previously labeled his performance in Levi as the worst of his career, also did not finish the race. Overall, the day belonged to Clement Noel, while the DSV racers faced a tough challenge on the slopes.