Tanguy Nef (4th), Loïc Meillard (5th) and Daniel Yule (6th) played placed during the Wengen slalom. But the Swiss were beaten by the Norwegians, who scored a hat-trick with Atle Lie McGrath ahead of Timon Haugan and Henrik Kristoffersen.
The Männlichen still refuses Swiss slalomers, unlike the Lauberhorn. In 2025, it was available in Norwegian with a superb hat-trick which demonstrates the class of Scandinavian technicians. Atle Lie McGrath won his 3rd career slalom after two successes in 2022.
The French-speaking people did the job, but they lacked that little something to annoy the Norwegians. Tanguy Nef achieved his best result in the World Cup with this 4th place, 0.33 seconds behind McGrath and only four hundredths behind Kristoffersen’s third place. The Genevan delivered two very good performances while being offensive.
Disappointing after the first round and a 24th place unworthy of his talent, Loïc Meillard rectified the situation during his second effort. Everything was not perfect, but the skier from Hérémence, the only runner under 50 seconds during the second round, found a smile again after the disappointment in Adelboden last weekend. “I took the rhythm and pushed,” Meillard analyzed at the RTS microphone. The snow was easy this morning and I couldn’t find the key. On the second, I told myself that we had to attack, look for the limit and go all out rather than score five points. Without this shyness in the morning, Meillard could have claimed better.
Second in 2022, Daniel Yule is slowly returning to his best level. The Val Ferret skier pleased the public by attacking on both courses. The Valaisan obviously made mistakes, but he wasn’t afraid and it paid off. You have to go back to his victory in Chamonix last winter to find any trace of such a good result.
-Fourth Swiss qualified for the second run, Marc Rochat struggled to finally finish in 25th place. “That’s some points, I’m not disappointed, but not fully satisfied either,” admitted the Vaudois. I found it difficult to take risks in technical sectors.”
Luca Aerni (38th) and Ramon Zenhäusern (43rd) were not entitled to take part in the second round.
Wengen descent: Marco Odermatt once again king of the Lauberhorn!
Marco Odermatt won the Wengen downhill for the third time. It’s even the fifth Swiss double of the season in the men’s discipline with Franjo von Allmen’s 2nd place.
18.01.2025
