Ski racer Linus Straßer has a chance of his fourth podium this winter at the slalom in Aspen. Clement Noel is in the lead after the first run on Sunday (March 3rd, 2024). Manuel Feller, on the other hand, needs to catch up if he wants to secure the small crystal ball early.
Straßer is currently in sixth place in snow-covered Aspen (USA). He probably won’t be able to attack the top anymore. The gap to the Frenchman Clement Noel at 1.37 seconds already seems too big for that.
The podium should still be within reach for the Munich native. Straßer is currently only three tenths of a second behind Kristoffersen in third place. Ahead of the Norwegian is Loic Meillard (Switzerland), who still has a chance of winning, only 0.27 seconds behind Noel.
Straßer makes a mistake on the steep slope
When Straßer started his first run, the competition had already submitted. Above all, Meillard, who managed the icy slope very well and set the first benchmark time. Straßer drove particularly well in the middle section and was on the verge of breaking Meillard’s time. But then he slipped on the lower steep slope and lost his momentum. He was no longer able to compensate for the lost speed until he reached the finish.
Immediately afterwards, Noel showed how things could get better, showing off his full technical class and moving to the top. Sebastian Holzmann was already a long way behind on the upper steep slope. Although the Oberstdorfer brought his journey to the finish without any major mistakes, he still lacked speed and bite. With a deficit of 3.25 seconds, he has to worry about the second round.
Feller’s crystal ball will probably have to wait
Manuel Feller, four-time winner this season and most recently successful in Palisades Tahoe, is also a long way behind after a mixed performance. After a good start, the Austrian lost control slightly in the lower part of the slope and is already 1.55 seconds behind Noel in ninth place.
Feller could secure victory in the Slalom World Cup early in Aspen. To do this, however, he would have to win the race or hope for a major mistake by Straßer, who is his closest rival in the discipline rankings. With a current lead of 204 points, Feller should no longer be able to take the small crystal ball away with three races still to come.
Standing after 30 of 68 starters