Henrik Kristoffersen produced a performance that he has been threatening to do for some time and what a great time to do it, in the last slalom race before the World Championships! Kristoffersen became the second racer to win two races this season in Slalom as he held off Ramon Zenhaeusern and man of the day, Sandro Simonet. Adrian Pertl and Victor Muffat-Jeandet shared fourth rounding out the top five.
Kristoffersen had had a bad day the day before as he had straddled the second gate. A new set up he had hoped would propel him to glory he had explained afterwards but being out after just two gates was not what he had wanted. From taking a small but significant lead on the first run, Kristoffersen held on to win the race by just under a third of a second.
The story of tue race was the performance of sandra Simonet as he made full advantage of going 1 on the second run. A clean smooth course and perfect visibility gave the Swiss racer, the perfect opportunity to really show what he can do. Simonet posted the fastest time on the run by almost half a second from his Swiss teammate, Ramon Zenhaeusern. Simonet had gone one, Zenhaeusern 20 but both were good strong runs that worked the skis through the course.
For many this was a race too far as they battled three races in six days plus a long journey across central Europe and dealing with all the tests. Many of the racers were open about the fatigue playing with them how it was not an ideal programme. Special programme in a special year. The Slalom racers now have a three week break before the World Championship Slalom in Crans Montana.
For the British racers, this was not the greatest of days. Major and Taylor both crashed out as they battled hard to make the second run whole Ryding, 1.44 off the pace in the first run and down in 21st was giving it a good go on run two when he straddled about two thirds of the way day. From having started as one of six racers to have scored in each round of the World Cup, Ryding was out. Tiredness, fatigue and trying to pinch just a little too much through the course meant that there would be no score for all three of the Quinn Estates athletes. Come the last race of the World Championships, they will be rested and ready you can be assured.
The decisions for all the coaches and selectors now turns to which four athletes will go to the World Championships. The racers have put the results in and who else will join them is the question. All three of the British World Cup team should be selected and the question now is who will take the fourth berth? Decisions will be made next week.
Zenhaeusern moves up to second behind Schwarz (6th in Chamonix 2) 146 points behind Schwarz with Sebastian Foss-Solevaag in third. Clement Noel, who failed to qualify from run one is fourth and Manuel Feller in fifth with Kristoffersen sixth. Dave Ryding is in joint eleventh with Victor Muffat-Jeandet.
Full results