In one of the closest fought first run Slaloms it is Clement Noel who holds the lead after run one in Chamonix. Ramon Zenhausern is second with Daniel Yule in third. Henrik Kristoffersen and Sebastian Foss-Solevaag round out the top five in an exciting first run. Dave Ryding is in 9th and Laurie Taylor is 30th!
Conditions were hard and fast and the course had an intriguing set midway down. Normally it is fairly recognisable in which line racers should take. on this American set course, racers had the option to go either above a vertical or take the more direct route and go straight in to the combination but would then to have to make quick movements on the exit.
Noel took the direct route and was fastest on the run yet others including Kristoffersen felt that the higher route would be quicker. It was all a personal choice.
With this being the last race before the World Championships start next week, selection issues were high on the agenda. Many national teams have not been selected or announced yet, waiting for the result of this race.
With just 1.67 between Noel and Taylor, there are some big names that have not made the cut including the likes of Austrians Marco Schwarz, Michael Matt and Italian Stefano Gross.
Ryding knew that he had made a few small errors but was ok with his first run. The head nodded in the finish and he is just under a second off the lead. All to play for,
Taylor meanwhile was battling hard down a slope that he has skied and trained on many times during his days training with the British Ski Academy in Les Houches. This was a gutsy, all out attacking performance by Taylor who is chasing his second World Cup points score of the season. The grin and smile showed just what it meant to him to make the second run.
Taylor came into the finish in 28th spot and had to hang on for the last ten racers to see if he would make it. He did and will go first on the second run, just ahead of Manuel Feller of Austria, who had started 50 places earlier!
Billy Major finished in 48th spot, 2.16 of the leading time and did not make the cut. Sadly too many mistakes cost him valuable time.
It is all go for run two.
First run results
Pictures Zoom Agence
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