Clement Noel starts the final from pole position. © APA/afp / FABRICE COFFRINI

World Cup Slalom: Noel takes pole – South Tyroleans disappoint

The first run of the World Cup slalom in Saalbach-Hinterglemm produced large time differences. Clement Noel is in the lead. The South Tyroleans were disappointing across the board.

16. February 2025

From: cst

The World Cup slalom at the end in Saalbach-Hinterglemm was a tough one. Many runners struggled with the slope and snow conditions - including the South Tyroleans Alex Vinatzer (24th) and Tobias Kastlunger (29th). Both of them fell behind by a huge margin and missed out on a place in the top 20. Vinatzer lost 2,54 seconds to the leader Clement Noel, Kastlunger even lost 3,22. The best Azzurro is therefore the 38-year-old (!) Stefano Gross (14th), who is competing in his last World Cup race.

But Gross was not able to keep up with the absolute top places. In addition to Noel, who made perfect use of his starting number 1, Loic Meillard (SUI) was particularly impressive. The Swiss is 19 hundredths behind Noel. Atle Lie McGrath (NOR/3rd) is already 64 hundredths behind. Behind him, Timon Haugan (NOR/+0,70) and Linus Straßer (GER/+0,77) are lurking for medals.

By far the best Azzurro: Stefano Gross. © ANSA / ANNA SZILAGYI

The rest of the field is already well over a second behind. Top favorites like Henrik Kristoffersen (+1,59) or Manuel Feller (+1,28) will have to stretch themselves in the second run if they want to get back into the fight for the medals.

Indians and Uzbeks at the start

The World Cup final in Saalbach-Hinterglemm begins at 13.15:1 p.m. Before that, however, numerous other athletes, including many so-called "ski exotics," will compete in the first run. A total of 100 riders are at the start, with countries such as Uzbekistan, India, Singapore and Cyprus represented. Athletes from these nations are never seen in the World Cup.

The top 60 from the first run are allowed to compete in the second run. First – as is usual in the World Cup – the best 1 start in reverse order. Then places 2 to 30 are allowed to compete again.