Eliminated on Saturday during the slalom, Loïc Meillard reacted this Sunday morning in Adelboden, during the first round of the giant slalom. Bib No 1, the 28-year-old from Valais immediately set a reference time which was not going to be beaten.
The Swiss particularly shone on the “Chuenisbärgli”. Expected like the Messiah, Marco Odermatt set the third time. The World Cup leader, quite behind at the last intermediate time, produced a superb final wall to finish 34 hundredths behind Meillard. The Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen slotted in between the two Swiss in second place (+0”27).
“I immediately found the rhythm and managed to make good turns,” rejoiced Meillard in front of the RTS camera. Despite everything, I made a few small mistakes on the slightly flatter sector, but obviously, no one managed to do better! In any case, it promises a great four-way battle in the second round.” Because Atle Lie McGrath, another Norwegian, is only 35 hundredths behind Meillard.
The Swiss record is completed by the excellent fifth place of Thomas Tumler. Grison is 68 hundredths behind the Valais leader. The Friborg Luca Aerni is in sixteenth place (+1”73) after the passage of the first thirty competitors. As for Grison Fadri Janutin, he was eliminated.
The second round will start at 1:30 p.m.
