Lucas Braathen made the absolute most of his early start on the second run in the Slalom at Wengen. From 29th place after the first run, Braathen attacked the second run to take the win from Daniel Yule and Giuliano Razzoli. The top five were rounded out by Fabio Gstrein and Manuel Feller. Dave Ryding placed 16th.
This was such an exciting race that had so many variables that affected the race result. Warm weather and cold gates interspersed made it so interesting to watch as some struggled and others absolutely nailed it.
Braathen benefitted from the early start on the second run combined with his coach having set the second run. It was not all about chance as Braathen skied a fantastic second run. As the course deteriorated though the coarse got harder to negotiate. Spurts of DNF's happened before the information got to the start again.
From 8th after the first run, Yule skied a great run in attacking yet thoughtful run. Frustration at the finish was evident having had an advantage of over a second. He still had the manners to congratulate Braathen in the finish.
With a number of racers starting to struggle with no results or a sequence of crashes, the fact that the likes of Clement Noel held a little back, the lure of a podium place for Braathen grew and grew.
When Sebastian Foss-Solevaag failed to beat his protagee, the race tension rose more and more. First Foss-Solevaag failed to better the time then Feller failed and then it left Kristoffersen at the start. The glass were on for Braathen as the reality dawned of first a podium and then....
Six gates from home Kristoffersen straddled when over a second ahead. The joy and the pain were there in equal measure.
Braathen wins with Yule taking his 11th podium and a first podium in four years for the 2010 Olympic Champion.
What a race! Ice on the steep and soft on the lower section. On to Kitzbühel now.
Full results