Christmas in November and even twice in a row. Frenchman Clément Noël, already winner of the first slalom of the winter in mid-November, flew over the Gurgl slalom in Austria on Sunday, relegating his competitors to almost a second during the first round then managing during the second.
Starting in 2nd position on the first route, Clément Noël had an almost perfect round, finishing in 52″76 despite poor visibility. He took almost a second from all the other slalomers, who nevertheless benefited from a clearing: the Norwegian Atle Lie McGrath finished 2nd at 88 hundredths ahead of another Frenchman, Steven Amiez (3rd at 94 hundredths).
During the second round, the Vosges native settled for… 20th time but it was enough to maintain a half-second lead over the Swede Kristoffer Jakobsen. Legs first then head second was the recipe for success in Austria.
“The atmosphere was incredible,” he smiles. But in the second round, I didn't have good feelings. I made one mistake and then another. I wasn't sure I could win like this but I had enough of a lead to resist. I am more than happy with this day. »
Noël, Olympic slalom champion in 2022, returned to victory last week by winning the first slalom of the winter in Levi in Finland, his first World Cup success since January 2023. The Frenchman changed mentally to the offseason, especially in terms of state of mind. “It’s not wanting to control everything,” he explained on Friday. Something that I have perhaps done a little too much in the past in recent seasons. To tell myself that once I have all the cards in hand, I can let go and give way to instinct to ski as quickly as possible.”
For the second time this winter, the Austrian Manuel Feller, winner of the slalom globe in March, went off the track and will not score any points. Which strengthens the Frenchman's chances of succeeding him if he continues at this frantic pace. In any case, he will arrive in Val d'Isère, for the next stage on December 15, with a red World Cup leader's bib firmly installed on his shoulders.
