Image: APA/Barbara Gindl
“It will be a brutal slaughter,” Manuel Feller had predicted. The 30-year-old Fieberbrunner should be right about that. Because the World Cup slalom, which will conclude the title fights in Courchevel, can hardly be surpassed in terms of excitement. The top 19 after the first round are only separated by a second, a hundredth thriller for the medals is to be expected.
The Austrian quartet is fully involved in the music. At half-time, Feller is 13 hundredths ahead of Greek AJ Ginnis, who sensationally triumphed as recently in Chamonix (second), and Norwegian Lucas Braathen, who underwent an appendectomy almost three weeks ago.
Fabio Gstrein (+0.56 seconds) is seventh, double medalist Marco Schwarz (+0.71) is ninth. Adrian Pertl (+0.83) as 14th still has absolutely realistic chances.
Feller’s pole position comes as a surprise insofar as the Tyrolean had made a major departure when entering the race. After a highside, he landed painfully on his pelvis and hips. Afterwards he should still deliver a run that left no doubt about his fitness. Feller ignited the turbo – and how!
“Because of what happened before, I didn’t feel quite ready at the start. The run was okay, that’s a pretty good starting position,” said Feller.
Therapy units are now on the program so that you can be up to speed in the final from 1.30 p.m. (in the live ticker on nachrichten.at). “Manu can bring it down, he has good nerves,” said Schwarz, who feels very comfortable in the position of “hunter”. “It was definitely my best slalom for a long time. I will attack fully, the position is not bad,” emphasized the 27-year-old from Carinthia.
Source: Nachrichten
