The smile is back: Alex Vinatzer climbed onto the podium in Kitzbühel. © ANSA / ANNA SZILAGYI

Podium in Kitzbühel: Vinatzer is back

The season so far has been – to put it positively – mixed for Alex Vinatzer. On Sunday, the Val Gardena native showed strong signs of life on the Kitzbühel Ganslern slope.

26 January 2025

From: cst

A 10th place in December in Val d'Isere was Alex Vinatzer's best slalom result so far this season. Recently, the Val Gardena native has not been able to get going at all. In Alta Badia, Madonna di Campiglio and Wengen he scored no points at all. In Adelboden he came in a disappointing 28th.

But all of that is forgotten in an instant, because on Sunday Vinatzer left his form crisis behind him. Second place in Kitzbühel – what could be better for the 2-year-old from Wolkenstein? Vinatzer made up a whopping 25 places in the final thanks to a brilliant run and bypassing several competitors. This meant he improved from 9th place to 11nd place.

Took the win: Clement Noel from France. © APA / TOBIAS STEINMAURER

Vinatzer was only beaten by Clement Noel, who was in fourth place at the break. The Frenchman also benefited from the retirement of his teammate Steven Amiez (second in the first run) and the half-time leader Timon Haugan. Lucas Braathen, who was still annoyed after his run, came third.

Vinatzer as a solo entertainer

From an Italian perspective, the race was sobering, apart from Vinatzer's success. Not a single Azzurro was able to qualify for the final alongside the South Tyrolean. Slalom remains a crisis discipline for the Azzurri - especially since there are currently no young upstarts in sight. The same applies to Austria, which is still waiting for its first slalom podium place this season.