French Olympic champion Clément Noël, who won the first two slaloms of the World Cup season, fell heavily on Saturday during the giant of Val d'Isère, and is doubtful for the slalom on Sunday.
Starting with bib 31, under the snow and with poor visibility, the Frenchman at his home in Val d'Isère began to hurtle down the Face de Bellevarde but took a gate head-on after 45 seconds of racing and finished in the net.
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Noël quickly got up but appeared to be hit in the right leg. He was then able to put his skis back on and descend to the bottom of the slope, relying only on his left leg.
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In the finish area, the Frenchman, who had chosen to line up on his first giant of the winter on Saturday, seemed to be suffering from pain in his right ankle and had broken teeth.
Swiss Marco Odermatt won the race
We currently have no further details on his condition and we do not know if he will compete in the slalom on Sunday, where he is eagerly awaited.
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Winner of the first two slaloms of the winter in Levi (Finland) and Gurgl (Austria) last month, Noël aimed Sunday at Val d'Isère, his adopted resort since adolescence, for a third victory in three races between the stakes.
It was the Swiss Marco Odermatt who won the race.
