January 31, 2021 - 7:48 AM
CHAMONIX, France - Henrik Kristoffersen showed glimpses of his best slalom skills Sunday, winning the last World Cup men s slalom race before the world alpine ski championships.
The Norwegian had an attacking, fluent opening run, and defied worsening course conditions in the final to land his second victory of the season.
Most of the top-ranked racers from the opening leg struggled on the rapidly deteriorating La Verte des Houches course, with the surface getting softer and softer as the sun came out in the afternoon after days of rain.
Kristoffersen was the last racer on course but managed to hold on to his first-run lead as he battled his way through the ruts.
Returning to the same course Saturday, Noël improved from third position after the opening leg as the top two lost time in similar mistakes halfway through their final runs.
On a course softened by persistent rain, first-run leader Marco Schwarz of Austria dropped to third, 0.19 seconds behind Noël, while Switzerland s Ramon Zenhäusern remained in second and trailed by 0.16.
Schwarz was fastest in a tight opening run, leading Zenhäusern by 0.02 and Noël by 0.03. It was pretty difficult. There were lots of bumps, lots of ruts. I’m usually not so good in that type of condition, said Noël, adding he regretted his home race was without spectators amid anti-coronavirus measures.