Like in Garmisch, Linus Straßer has to attack from behind
But Linus Straßer from TSV 1860 Munich is still doing well: in twelfth place, 1.56 seconds behind (55.14). He hadn’t managed to complete his run without making any mistakes, so he struggled a bit at the finish.
However, the 29-year-old still has chances on the podium in the Flachau floodlights, most recently in Garmisch-Partenkirchen he even made it from 16th to third place. “This should be a cool race”Straßer said before the penultimate slalom of the winter.
Number one for the “series winner” Kristoffersen a disadvantage
Straßer wasn’t the only one who had problems driving on this difficult course on what was actually a gentle slope. Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen, who leads the overall slalom ranking and is the only one to have won twice this winter (though in one place, Garmisch-Partenkirchen), completely botched the last transition just before the finish.
It seemed as if his starting number one was more of a disadvantage than an advantage this time. He has to worry about progressing 2.67 seconds behind – he probably won’t make it. That is definitely critical for him: After all, in the fight for the small crystal ball in the discipline, he is only just ahead of his teammates Lucas Braathen (307) and Straßer (278) with 356 points. Both should catch up on Wednesday.
Incidentally, the DSV squad for Flachau is the largest so far this winter: in addition to Strasser, Fabian Himmelsbach (SC Sonthofen), David Ketterer (SSC Schwenningen), Adrian Meisen (SC Garmisch), Julian Rauchfuss (RG Burig Mindelheim), Alexander Schmid (SC Fischen) and Anton Tremmel (SC Rottach-Egern) at the start.
Standing after 30 drivers