Lucas Braathen has become the slalom winner in Wengen with the biggest catch-up race in the history of the Alpine Ski World Cup. The Norwegian stormed from 29th place to the top of the rankings in the first round, smashing the mark of the Swiss Sandro Simonet, who had moved from 30th to third place in Chamonix on January 3, 2021.
“It’s crazy, it’s actually impossible to win this race,” said the 21-year-old, who had already shown his great potential in 2020 with his giant slalom triumph in Sölden. This time he rolled up the field from behind. “I didn’t believe I would get a second chance anymore. It was actually already over,” said Braathen, who had qualified for the decision of the top 30 by just six hundredths.
Not much was missing for a Norwegian double success. The half-time leader Henrik Kristoffersen threaded – clearly on course for victory – four goals before the goal. One’s sorrow, the other’s joy: The Italian Olympic champion Giuliano Razzoli “inherited” third place and, at 37 years and 29 days, is the oldest “pole artist” to have climbed the podium in the slalom World Cup.
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The appearance of the second, Daniel Yule, was also historic. Switzerland had to wait 23 long years for a podium finish in the Wengen slalom.
The Austrians had to line up behind the top three this time. Fabio Gstrein improved by 13 positions to fourth place, Manuel Feller was fifth and is already looking forward to the next classic. “We’ll try to turn the tables in Kitzbühel,” said the Tyrolean, who was delighted with Vincent Kriechmayr’s downhill triumph. “Of course it’s a cool thing – especially after all the trappings. We followed his journey to Wengen and hoped that it would be enough. That’s how it was.”
Johannes Strolz was not lucky this time: the sensational slalom winner from Adelboden was eliminated. Christian Hirschbühl is threatened with a long break after a wild fall. The man from Bregenz, who left the target area with support, suffered a broken ankle. (Alex)
Source: Nachrichten
