David Ryding carried his new found confidence into the final Europa Cup race of the winter in taking third, in Soldeu, Andorra. While Daniel Yule took second and as a result won the season long Europa Cup Slalom series, ... Â this was a strong result for Ryding. In second place after the first run, Ryding closed in on Dan Yule who lead after the first run but neither could cope with the second charge of French racer Victor Muffett-Jeandet who was one of only six racers to go under 51 seconds on the second run.
Ryding explained as they headed back to Barcelona to fly back to Zell am See that the piste had been a testing piste with a flat top section before a steep pitch into the finish. "It was a shame that I was not closer in for a FIS point result but all in all it was a good day," he explained. With both Daniel Yule and David Ryding both having been registered with the Kandahar Ski Club as younger racers, the Kandahar can lay claim to having the top two racers in the Europa Cup Slalom standings at the moment!
While Ryding did not defend his Europa Cup crown this was not the main priority for the season he explained last week in Kranjska Gora. Race wins and lowering his FIS points to give him a better start on the World Cup tour were higher priorities this season. Ryding, who applied himself very well at the Olympics despite making an error at the top of the course, spoke out against the athletes that failed to make the criteria for the Olympics. "They had two years to make the grade," he explained. While he had sympathy for the racers that had races cancelled and put off, Ryding felt that the criteria were 100% realistic and doable. " I am trying to be the best that I can," Ryding explained after Kranjska Gora.
Third place in the race saw Ryding move up to second place in the series behind Daniel Yule. You could argue that the crown has stated in British hands....!
With fellow British racer, Dougie Crawford scoring some good top ten results in some FIS speed races, the future for the British racers is looking promising. Crawford finished in the top ten in all three speed races, two Downhills and a Super G with a best result in the first downhill of 5th.
Dougie Crawford results
David Ryding results
Picture of David Ryding competing at Obereggen Europa Cup in December. Picture RACER READY