After his mistake in Madonna di Campiglio, where he was eliminated in the second run with an interim best time, Feller drove a race right from the start in the first run that would probably be described in football as a “controlled offensive” and took the lead with start number three .
The Austrian’s time became more and more valuable after the Swiss local favorite Loic Meillard took over and the Norwegian Atle Lie McGrath also dropped out. It was not at all the race of the most recently successful drivers.
Madonna’s third, Croatian Samuel Kolega, also failed to finish. The Bulgarian Albert Popow was also initially unable to follow up his sensational performance in Madonna the Campiglio and was already 2.16 seconds behind Feller after an incorrect ride.
“It’s only half the battle”
Feller said about his ride in the ORF interview: “It didn’t feel bad and was generally a solid run. It’s only half the battle, it will be decided in the second round.” The Tyrolean did not want to make any predictions for the decision.
Feller: “Only half the battle”
Last year’s winner Manuel Feller (2024) is also leading in 2025 after the first slalom run in the Bernese Oberland, ahead of Straßer (GER) and Noel (FRA).
“Let’s see what kind of run we can do in the second round and then I’ll come up with a plan. The slope will have tracks and I will have to make more turns. Of course, the lead is definitely a feeling that I can build on because it means that the set-up is right.”
Braathen shows, Austrians get involved
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen with number 19 delivered a good performance. The Norwegian, who starts for Brazil, finished in fifth place, only 0.53 seconds behind, on the slopes that were already getting worse, making it clear that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the decision .
ORF ON
Live stream from the Adelboden slalom
The Austrians Dominik Raschner (7th/+0.89), whose pole broke during his ride, Fabio Gstrein (9th/+1.24), Michael Matt (11th/+1.49) and Johannes Strolz (12th). /+1.54) were able to rank around tenth place, but were already significantly behind in some cases. Marco Schwarz continues to look for a connection in his comeback season. The 29-year-old from Carinthia was 2.27 seconds behind the leading Feller.
In any case, Raschner appeared focused in the ORF interview and knew what he had to do: “The motto was that I accelerate more, like in the last races. It was dynamic at the top, but I can definitely get something out of it at the bottom. That’s the goal for the second round, that I let the skis move even more at the bottom.”
