Meillard completes the Hafjell double

Loic Meillard has made the race for the small crystal globe exciting again. Although Henrik Kristoffersen's lead is still considerable, the Swiss avoided a decision before the World Cup finals with his slalom victory in Hafjell. Meanwhile, the Azzurri suffered a historic defeat.

March 16, 2025

From: leo

Loic Meillard may be the reigning slalom world champion, but he's only been at the top of the World Cup in this discipline once before – in March of last year in Aspen. On Sunday, he secured his long-awaited second slalom World Cup victory. The Swiss skier thus completed the Hafjell double, having already won the giant slalom the day before.

In glorious weather, Timon Haugan set the first benchmark time. The 28-year-old pulled away from the competition, especially on the steep starting slope. The leader in the discipline rankings, Henrik Kristoffersen, found it difficult to beat this mark. However, Atle Lie McGrath overtook his teammate with a flawless, flawless run, also leaving his good friend Lucas Pinheiro Braathen behind.

The podium with Atle Lie McGrath, Loic Meillard, and Lucas Pinheiro Braathen. © ANSA / Stian Lysberg Solum

Meillard was unstoppable for the Norwegian-Brazilian duo, who finished second and third, respectively – despite the pair's occasional slip-ups. Ultimately, 21 hundredths of a second tipped the scales in favor of the newly crowned world champion, who now trails Kristoffersen by just 47 points in the Slalom World Cup. With one race left before the end of the season, Clement Noel, who had to settle for seventh place, can still dream of the small globe. He trails Kristoffersen by 7 points.

Azzurri are lagging behind

One year before the Olympic Games on home soil, Italy's technical team is in a deep crisis. For the second time this season, not a single Azzurro qualified for the second round of the slalom. The Italians had already suffered a similar fate in Levi. It hadn't happened for 23 years.

Tobias Katlunger & Co. had a tough time. © Pentaphoto

Alex Vinatzer did not participate in the race because he suffered a minor calf injury during his retirement from the giant slalom the day before. Tobias Kastlunger and Matteo Canins finished 32nd and 49th, respectively. Veteran Stefano Gross competed in what was likely the last World Cup race of his career (35th).

Slalom in Hafjell, the result: