Featured Image: Jakobsen, Noël and McGrath GEPA pictures
A Stunning Finish in Gürgl
With just two racers left to compete, Sweden’s Kristoffer Jakobsen, who had been eighth after the first run, held the lead. Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath followed, delivering a powerful and precise run to finish just 0.01 seconds behind Jakobsen. At the start, that left only the Olympic champion and dominant first-run leader, Clément Noël. Despite recording just the 20th fastest second run, Noël skied with confidence and composure to secure his second slalom victory of the season, keeping his perfect season record intact. Jakobsen climbed six spots during the second run to finish second, 0.43 seconds back, while Lie McGrath rounded out the podium in third, just 0.44 seconds behind Noël.
After the race, Noël reflected on his performance: “The feeling was not so good for everyone. It was a real battle in the second run. I was quite confident at the start, but then I had a really bad feeling. I tried to ski a little bit better in the steep and then I made another mistake at the bottom, so I was really not sure that it was going to be enough to win. But yeah, the most important is that I had a good margin in hand and then I was able to win the race. But for sure, that second run was a real fight.”
“I didn’t feel really good in the first run, a little bit passive, so I just changed up mentally and went for it in the second run,” Jakobsen said. “It didn’t matter if you went safe or all in because it was still so difficult.
Lie McGrath described the Frenchman’s dominance: “He’s in a league of his own.”
The Drama of the Second Run
Second runs of a World Cup tech race always captivate fans. Only 30 racers qualify for the finale, and the reverse start order ensures the fastest from the first run skis last. This format creates constant lead changes, with the winner determined by the final racer on course. High above the tree line, the drama of the men’s slalom in Gürgl proved no exception. Contrary to the overcast conditions in the first run, the skies cleared for the second, offering perfect visibility.
Haugan’s Charge
Norway’s Timon Haugan, the 2024 World Cup Finals slalom winner in Saalbach, seized the lead as the fifth racer down. After ten competitors had completed their runs, he climbed five positions and held a 0.31-second advantage over Swiss champion Daniel Yule. After the first 15 racers skied, the top of the leaderboard remained unchanged. Haugan led, with Yule in second and France’s Paco Rassat, wearing bib 33, in third, just 0.39 seconds behind the Norwegian. Haugan’s impressive performance, highlighted by the fastest second-run time, propelled him up 17 positions, from 26th to ninth.
North America’s Sole Finalist
The only North American to qualify for the final was Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Ben Ritchie, starting 16th. While he didn’t challenge for the lead, Ritchie skied consistently and finished 21st, earning World Cup points for the second time this season. Immediately after Ritchie’s run, Swiss star Loïc Meillard delivered a powerful performance to take the lead, ending Timon Haugan’s impressive climb of 11 spots as the leader. Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen, one of the top contenders, followed Meillard but came up just 0.09 seconds short of the lead. By the time the first 20 racers had completed their second runs, the leaderboard showed Meillard in first, Kristoffersen in second, and Finland’s 21-year-old Eduard Hallberg, wearing bib 39, in third, 0.30 seconds behind the Swiss skier.
Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Ritchie reflected on his performance with measured optimism. “I’m happy for sure. Happy with the first run,” he said. “It’s a really challenging hill and a very icy surface. The second run wasn’t great—it wasn’t horrible—but I’m happy to come down and get points again. I gave myself a chance to really be in the race, and I didn’t quite put it together on the second run, but if I can keep giving myself a chance to be in there, eventually it’ll come around. So I’m happy with today.”
Jakobsen Dreams of a Podium
As the race entered its final ten competitors, the leaderboard settled for a few runs before Sweden’s Kristoffer Jakobsen took the lead with seven racers left to start. Jakobsen held the top spot through the next three skiers, edging closer to a fourth career podium. Frenchman Steven Amiez was the next to challenge but crossed the finish line 0.17 seconds behind Jakobsen, ensuring the Swede’s podium dream was a reality.
Season Momentum Builds
The men’s slalom in Gürgl delivered all the drama fans expect from a World Cup tech race. Clément Noël continued his perfect start to the season, Jakobsen showed his ability to climb the ranks with precision, and Haugan demonstrated the importance of a standout second run. As the slalom season gains momentum, the competition promises even more thrilling battles in the coming weeks.
Related content: Opening Run Clément Noël Dominates in Gürgl Slalom as Ben Ritchie Impresses
Results and Analysis: Fastest Three and Ben Ritchie
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Analysis: Fastest Three and Ben Ritchie
About the Author: Peter Lange
