Loïc Meillard secured second place in the slalom while dealing with back pain, following a recent third in Levi and fifth in Gurgl. Daniel Yule finished ninth, marking his first top ten of the season. Timon Haugan dominated, winning with a 1.13-second lead, while Atle Lie McGrath and Henrik Kristoffersen rounded out the podium. Other Swiss competitors included Luca Aerni in 17th and Tanguy Nef in 22nd.
(sda) Loïc Meillard put forth an impressive performance, securing second place in the slalom despite battling ongoing back pain. This follows his recent finishes of third in Levi, Finland, and fifth in Gurgl in the Ötztal. His strained expression at the end of his runs highlighted the physical challenges he continues to face.
Looking ahead, Meillard is scheduled to compete in the Super-G event in Bormio right before the New Year, but he remains uncertain about his participation. He’s taking a day-by-day approach, similar to the beginning of the season when back issues prevented him from entering the giant slalom in Sölden.
Yule Ranks as Second-Best Swiss Finisher
Daniel Yule made his mark by breaking into the top ten for the first time this season, finishing ninth overall. Although he started strong with a sixth-place ranking in the first run, he slipped back to ninth in the second run, leaving him with mixed feelings about his performance.
Other Swiss competitors also made their presence known on the leaderboard. Luca Aerni achieved his third consecutive point-scoring finish in this discipline, climbing eight places during the second run to finish in 17th. In contrast, Tanguy Nef had a tougher day, dropping seven spots and ultimately placing 22nd.
Haugan Dominates with a One-Second Lead
Timon Haugan was unstoppable on this occasion, clinching his second World Cup victory with a remarkable lead of 1.13 seconds. This win follows his triumph in the slalom at the season finale in Saalbach-Hinterglemm last March. Behind Meillard, two more Norwegians completed the podium, with Atle Lie McGrath finishing third and Henrik Kristoffersen retaining his lead in the overall standings. Notably, Meillard has emerged as his closest competitor.
Alta Badia (ITA). Men’s World Cup Slalom Results: 1. Timon Haugan (NOR) 1:45.40. 2. Loïc Meillard (SUI) 1.13 seconds behind. 3. Atle Lie McGrath (NOR) 1.26. 4. Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) 1.31. 5. Samuel Kolega (CRO) 1.32. 6. Clément Noël (FRA) 1.89. 7. Manuel Feller (AUT) 1.91. 8. Dave Ryding (GBR) 2.04. 9. Daniel Yule (SUI) 2.19. 10. Albert Popov (BUL) 2.37. 12. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA) 2.59. 17. Luca Aerni (SUI) 3.17. 18. Alexander Steen Olsen (NOR) 3.37. 22. Tanguy Nef (SUI) 3.85. A total of 27 out of 30 finalists were classified. Among those eliminated were Linus Strasser (GER) and Steven Amiez (FRA). First Run Best Times: Haugan 52.25. 2. McGrath 0.31. 3. Noël 0.99. 4. Amiez and Kristoffersen 1.05. 6. Yule 1.18. Additionally: 8. Meillard 1.44. 15. Nef 2.43. 24. Pinheiro Braathen 2.95. 25. Aerni 2.96. Not qualified for the second run: 36. Ramon Zenhäusern (SUI) 3.47. 44. Marco Schwarz (AUT) 4.05. A total of 72 competitors started, with 50 classified. Eliminated were Marc Rochat (SUI), Noel von Grünigen (SUI), Dominik Raschner (AUT), Fabio Gstrein (AUT), Kristoffer Jakobsen (SWE), and Alex Vinatzer (ITA). Second Run Results: 1. Pinheiro Braathen 52.79. 2. Meillard 0.05. 3. Popov 0.11. 4. Fabian Ax Swartz (SWE) 0.23. 5. Kolega 0.27. 6. Haugan 0.36. Additionally: 8. Aerni 0.57. 9. Kristoffersen 0.62. 18. McGrath 1.31. 20. Yule 1.37. 25. Nef 1.78.