Noel leads in France: USA’s Seymour 11th and Winters 16th.

The French crowd was loud and supportive, especially for their own Clement Noel. Noel was the third racer out of the start gate and delivered a masterpiece. The Olympic Champion and recent Schladming winner took advantage of perfect snow to deliver the fastest first run. The crowd enthusiastically approved. Close behind Noel is bib nine Switzerland’s Ramon Zenhaeusern (+0.15) and his teammate bib 1 Daniel Yule (+0.17).

As was expected from a first-time World Cup course setter, the course was straightforward. Its most significant challenge was the speed over the terrain. The simple course set by the USA coach created a smaller-than-normal time differential among the first 30 (+1.67). It also produced very few racers who did not finish.

However, the Stifel US Alpine Team took advantage. The first North America to qualify was USA’s Luke Winters. Winters skied his coach’s course well and finished the morning session (+1.26) in 16th. Also, teammate bib 59, Jett Seymour, enjoyed his coach’s course and qualified for the first time this season (+1.10) in 11th place. Notably, Bib 45, AJ Ginni,s the former US Ski Team athlete competing for Greece, also qualified for the afternoon run. Ginnis finished (+1.53) in 23rd position.

Oddly, the Austrians struggled to find speed on the simpler course. After the first 20 had started, the six Austrians to ski were the slowest of the twenty. Adrian Pertl was their fastest (+1.41) behind Noel. At the end of the first run, Pertl is the best-placed Austrian in the 21st position. They have four qualified for the second run. However, their coach will set the second course.

One of the biggest moves of the morning came from bib 42 Germany’s Alexander Schmidt. Schmidt skied well from top to bottom and finished the morning test (+1.05) in 10th place. Seven racers with bibs higher than 30 qualified for the second run. The last to do so was bib 63, Belgium’s Sam Maes (+1.50) in 22nd.

Analysis of fastest three; qualified North Americans and top 30 first run results.

Top 30 first-run results