Clement Noel scored his third win of the 2024/25 FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup in the Adelboden slalom on Saturday (11 January 2025).
Third after the first run, Noel was flying on his second descent before having to put in a big recovery turn midway down. Somehow, he managed to regain his speed and pip Lucas Pinheiro Braathen by two-hundredths of a second to deny Brazil a first World Cup triumph.
It was the Frenchman’s first victory on the Chuenisbärgli course in Switzerland with its famed party atmosphere as he returned to winning ways after taking the first two slaloms of the season. Having missed the race in Val d’Isere due to an ankle injury, Noel was sixth in Alta Badia before failing to finish the first run of the midweek contest in Madonna di Campiglio.
Two-time Adelboden winner Henrik Kristoffersen took third place but reigning slalom World Cup champion Manuel Fellerwho led after the first run, missed a gate on the second as his miserable season continues.
Noel told FIS, “Adelboden has always been a little bit of a struggle for me. I had my first podium here in 2019 but since then it’s been really difficult for me so I’m really happy to win it. It’s a magic place. It’s a huge atmosphere. Thanks to all the public. I know that you were here to see the GS today, but I hope you enjoyed the show.”
The fog made life more difficult for the spectators than the skiers, but the racers were heavily inconvenienced by a rutting track on the second run.
Filip Zubcic was the big mover as the course deteriorated. The Croatian was 21st at the midway point, but rose to seventh place. Germany’s Linus Strassersecond after the first run, slipped two places to fourth.
With crowds’ hero Loic Mellard recording a DNF on the first run, Kristoffersen took over at the top of the slalom World Cup standings with Noel up to second.
Most of the skiers return on Sunday for the Adelboden giant slalom, but overall World Cup leader and home favourite Marco Odermatt is the man to beat.
Swiss
