The Swiss play the leading roles in the Kranjska Gora slalom.
Wendy Holdener had the best time in the first round, tied with Zrinka Ljutic, while Camille Rast and Mélanie Meillard were in 3rd and 6th place respectively.
Starting with bib 1 on Sunday morning, Wendy Holdener set a reference time which the Croatian Zrinka Ljutic, victorious in Semmering last Sunday, equaled immediately. The Schwyz resident is aiming for a third victory in her favorite discipline and a 37th podium.
Leader of the slalom World Cup thanks in particular to her triumph in Killington, Camille Rast is also perfectly in the game. The Valaisanne, never ranked lower than 5th this winter in special, is only 32 hundredths behind the co-leaders before a second round scheduled for 1 p.m.
Still looking for a first podium in a traditional discipline, Mélanie Meillard can also make a big impact. The Hérémence skier is 0”78 behind the Holdener/Ljutic duo. She is tied with the winner of the giant from the day before, the Swede Sara Hector.
However, it went less well for Michelle Gisin. The Obwalden, modest 26th in giant on Saturday, dropped 1”66 to find herself 16th. Three other Swiss women will see the second round: Janine Mächler (18th at 1”80), Eliane Christen (23rd at 1”93) and Elena Stoffel (28th at 2”19). Only Aline Höpli (39th) and Aline Danioth (50th) missed the cut.
/ATS
