Daniel Yule makes history: GEPA pictures

Switzerland’s Daniel Yule was the slowest first-run skier to qualify for the finale. That made him the first skier to attack the final run. So when he defended his lead through 29 challengers to win the Chamonix slalom, he made World Cup history. Being the first to do so is extraordinarily special. He accomplished his miracle with a second run that was (-0.64) faster than anyone else.

“Absolutely incredible,” Yule said. “I’ve got to say I got really lucky staying 30th after the first run, but then I managed to ski an amazing second run. It was a long wait down here (in the leader’s chair), but a nice one.”

After making a significant error during the morning run, Yule qualified 30th for the finale. However, when a skier of his caliber runs first in a second run, they are expected to deliver the speed that significantly elevates them up the leaderboard. However, a top ten would have been amazing and welcomed by Yule.

Yule revealed,”I’d already packed my bags and I was ready to go back to the hotel but then I got an opportunity to ski the second run,” 

“I thought, ‘OK, it’s warm weather, you have a perfect track,’ so we can maybe go and fight for a top 10 or something, but I never dreamt about the win.”

Yule’s adventure to the top

The first likely racer to threaten Yule was the fourth to ski Britain’s Dave Ryding. When Ryding, who had a significant first-run advantage, skied well and crossed the line (+0.50) behind Yule, it was clear the Swiss skier had delivered.

When he deflected the challenge of Germany’s Linus Strasser, who had won the last two slaloms, it became even more apparent that defeating the Swiss star would be very difficult. After the first 15 racers had completed the final afternoon test, he maintained a (-0.41) lead.

After the first 20 had skied, his lead had not changed.

The first racer to get closer to Yule was Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen, who started the run with nearly a second advantage but crossed the finish into second (+0.37). Then Austrian Dominik Raschner, who was sixth after the first run, tied Kristoffersen.

The final five to race

Usually, the podium is delivered by the fastest five from the first run. The first of those racers to ski was Switzerland’s Loic Meillard, but he also failed to take the lead. He crossed the finish into second (+0.16) and finished there.

“It’s close, but at the end, it was definitely a tough race for the guys at the front, Meillard said. “I kept telling myself, ‘Keep moving, keep going forward’ and it worked.”

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Next, Norwegian Alte Lie McGrath struggled mightily and crossed as the slowest of all finishers.

However, the leader of the slalom standings, Austrian Manuel Feller, was next to ski. He has won three slaloms this season but failed to match Yule. It was then Yule was guaranteed a podium.

Regardless, Feller increases his lead as the leader of the season’s slalom standings.

That left two men remaining at the top of the course. The first to race was Norwegian Timon Haugan, who crossed the finish in 7th. Then Yule knew he would be no worse than 2nd and his teammate Meillard knew he would earn his first slalom podium of the season.

The final skier to deliver his run was home country hero Clement Noel. While the crowd willed him to victory, his run fell short and finished the day third (+0.18). While the French crowd was disappointed, they were thrilled to witness the drama of history being made, and the many Swiss fans in attendance were delighted.

“I think that’s one of my best races of the season so far,” said Noel, “It was really difficult at the end, it was really, really bumpy. But I think I had the possibility to win this race. I was really close, but that’s how it is. I have to take this podium because it’s still a really good race from my side.”

Other skiers made significant second-run double-digit moves up the leaderboard. That list included AJ Ginnis (GRE) up 14, Ryding (GBR) up 16, Alex Vinatzer (ITA) up 11 and Samuel Kolega (CRO) up 13.

North American

The sole North American to qualify for the afternoon finale was Stifel US Ski Team’s Jett Seymour. He had finished the first run the 15th fastest, making him the 16th skier to attack the second. Last season, he earned the best result of his career in Chamonix and was determined to repeat excellence.

Unfortunately, Seymour struggled to find his first run speed and crossed the finish line, the 16th fastest slower than the times of all the previous skiers. However, he scores his first World Cup points of the season by finishing the day 28th (+1.02).

Comments on the day

While the race surface slowed during the second run, all thirty skiers finished, and two of the first run top five finished on the podium.

The following men’s World Cups will be a giant slalom and slalom in Bansko, Bulgaria, on February 10th and 11th.

In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Yule secured his place atop the podium, solidifying his place in ski racing history. As the curtains fall on the Chamonix slalom, the ski racing community celebrates Yule’s remarkable triumph and fans eagerly anticipate the next chapter of alpine excellence in Bansko.

A happy Yule said, “This one might be tough to beat.”

Chamonix slalom results and analysis of the fastest three and USA’s Jett Seymour

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Analysis of the fastest three and USA’s Jett Seymour