Aline Danioth is back! The Uranaise took a magnificent 2nd place this Tuesday during the first European Cup slalom in Les Diablerets. The performance is significant for the skier from Andermatt, who seriously injured her right knee, for the umpteenth time, in Gällivare (SUE) almost two years ago. But through self-sacrifice and courage, Aline Danioth managed to climb back up to find her best level.
Leader on the first course, the talented Swiss skier had to cede victory to Frenchwoman Doriane Escané after making a big mistake on the second course. She was also quite surprised to find herself on the box again for the 16th time in her career in the European Cup. She hadn’t been to such a party for two years and a double podium at Pozza di Fassa.
On the Olympic track which hosted the YOG in 2020, the Swiss slalom racers achieved a nice overall result. Eliane Christen, after her first two top 15 finishes in the World Cup, confirmed her good intentions by finishing 4th with bib 21. The Uranaise, too, achieved her best result in the elite antechamber. He only missed 12 hundredths of a second to take 3rd place from French skier Caitlin MacFarlane.
Six Swiss skiers in the fifteen
Elena Stoffel (7th), Anuk Brändli (8th), Aline Höpli (11th) and Selina Egloff (14th) also ranked in the top 15. After taking 42nd place on the first route, Amélie Klopfenstein, ill, was eliminated on the second. The second Romande in the running, the Fribourgeoise, Camille Jacqueroud, who was competing in her first European Cup race, went out in the first round.
A second slalom is planned for Wednesday in the Vaudoises Préalpes resort if conditions permit. This Tuesday, the race had to be postponed by two hours in order to be able to clear the fresh snow that had fallen overnight, as well as to be able to salt and water the track given the high temperatures in the region.
JT/LMO
Swiss
