Strong run: Will Vinatzer's knot burst in Schladming?

The slalom in Kitzbühel was already a hit, but three days later the most important dance in the Stangenwald takes place in Schladming. Alex Vinatzer caused a sensation in the first round.

24 January 2024

From: det

It has been a paradoxical situation for Alex Vinatzer so far. He is surprisingly strong this season in giant slalom, his second discipline. In the slalom, where the native of Val Gardena usually feels at home, not much went together. 16th place last Sunday in Kitzbühel was the highest of emotions for the World Cup bronze winner. But now “Vinni” has had a very strong first run in Schladming.

The Ladiner is in 5th place at half time, the podium is only 31 hundredths of a second away. Remarkable: Vinatzer started the race on the battered slope with the high starting number 18, but presented himself extremely calm. In this condition, the 24-year-old can achieve liberation under the floodlights on the Planai. The second round begins at 20.45:XNUMX p.m.

Straßer has the double in mind

Linus Straßer is in the lead, reaching for the double in front of more than 20.000 fans. The German had already won the slalom in Kitzbühel on Sunday and now he wants to triumph in the next classic. However, the Norwegian surprise man Timon Haugan lurks just ten hundredths of a second behind, while the Frenchman Clement Noel takes third place (+3). Atle Lie McGrath is ahead of fifth-placed Vinatzer. Favorite Manuel Feller had to settle for 0,36th place and is already more than a second behind.

Linus Straßer is in bomb shape. © ANSA / CHRISTIAN BRUNA

Tobias Kastlunger had a bitter evening as he pulled in just a few meters from the finish line. Simon Maurberger couldn't end his crisis either: he clearly missed the top 30, more than four seconds behind. Matteo Canins also failed to qualify for the decision. The second round begins at 20.45:XNUMX p.m. With the SportNews-As always, you won't miss anything with the live ticker.

The ranking after the 1st run

Pos	Name	Country	Time
1.	Linus Strasser	GER	50.46 sec
2.	Timon Haugan	NOR	+0,10
3.	Clement Noel	FRA	+0,36
4.	Atle Lie McGrath	NOR	+0,62
5.	Alex Vinatzer	ITA/Wolkenstein	+0,67
6.	Daniel Yule	SUI	+0,78
7.	Henrik kristoffersen	NOR	+0,98
8.	Manuel Feller	TUE	+1,04
9.	Alexander Steen Olson	NOR	+1,16
10.	Marc Rochat	SUI	+1,26

13.	Tommaso Sala	ITA	+1,42
31.	Stefano Gross	ITA	+2,93
42.	Matteo Canins	ITA/Abbey	+4,43
45.	Simon Maurberger	ITA/Ahrntal	+4,64
48.	Corrado Barbera	ITA	+4,86
DNF	Tobias Kastlunger	ITA/St. Vigil