Bulgaria’s Albert Popov came from behind to win the men’s World Cup slalom from Madonna Di Campiglio on Wednesday.
Popov led the Bulgarian ski team to its first World Cup victory in 45 years. This triumph occurred on the anniversary of Peter Popangelov’s victory, January 8, 1980.
Eighth after the first round, Popov had an excellent second run on the Canalone Miramonti track. The 27-year-old Bulgarian let out a cry of joy after crossing the finish line.
He then had to wait to see if his time would be enough to obtain his second career podium.
The reigning World Cup slalom champion, Manuel Feller, looked like he was going to challenge him, but he lost his balance and crashed into a gate. It was the third time in five slalom starts this season that he failed to cross the finish line.
Atle Lie McGrath had dominated the first run, leading by more than half a second. He was looking to record a first victory in three years.
-The Norwegian held a lead of 1.21 seconds ahead of Popov at the first intermediate, but lost it when he went through a gate.
Popov beat the Swiss Loïc Meillard by 44 hundredths of a second and the Croatian Samuel Kolega by 46 hundredths. Kolega earned his first career podium on the World Cup circuit.
Olympic champion Clément Noël, who won the first two slaloms of the season, started his first descent well, but an error caused him to lose his balance.
Norwegian skier Timon Haugan dominated the final slalom at Alta Badia, but he also retired in the first run after losing grip halfway down the track.
Meillard rose to first place in the discipline’s ranking, 10 points ahead of world champion Henrik Kristoffersen and 85 points ahead of Noël.
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