Adelboden and Linus Straßer – that fits. The Munich slalom expert made it onto the podium again on Sunday (08.01.2023) on his favorite track in Switzerland and came in third. Victory at the end of the World Cup spectacle went to Norwegian Lucas Braathen.
On the legendary Chuenisbärgli with the steepest target slope in the Ski World Cup, Straßer went on the offensive in both runs despite a cold and was rewarded again. As in the previous two years, the Bavarian made it onto the podium in front of 20,000 fans in the Adelboden cauldron. He was already in third place after the first round and was happy on ZDF: “Adelboden is the best race in the Ski World Cup.”
Norway celebrated a double victory. Lucas Braathen defended his half-time lead and won ahead of his compatriot Atle Lie McGrath, who made it onto the podium from fifth place.
The Swiss Loic Meillard, second after the first round with podium chances, fell back to fourth place. From a Swiss point of view, it was just a small flaw in an incredible ski spectacle.
Lucas Braathen at the finish line in the Adelboden slalom
Tremmel better than ever in the World Cup
Apart from Strasser, only Anton Tremmel (SC Rottach-Egern) from the German team made it through to the final. The 28-year-old qualified 29th and delivered a dream run in the second round in dream conditions. Tremmel made up 16 places and was 13th as good as in a World Cup race.
The German, who hasn’t been in the limelight in the World Cup up to now, took advantage of the moment, set off fireworks in 53.34 seconds (best time!) on an ideal slope and was able to make himself comfortable in the leaders’ box for a long time. “It fits very well”Tremmel laughed on ZDF: “I managed the steep slope well, I wanted to be close to the gates. That worked.” Tremmel was faster than anyone else in the second round.
Anton Tremmel conjured up a strong second run in the Adelboden slalom.
Straßer is reminiscent of Mittermaier
After his seventh slalom podium of his career, Straßer started with a black ribbon. “Rosi laid the foundation for where we are today. We can’t even imagine the ski boom that she triggered back then. I’ve visited the Neureuthers a few times. She’s just a very been a great woman”, said Straßer on ZDF. Felix Neureuther’s mother died on Wednesday after a serious illness at the age of 72.
Favorites say goodbye early
The piste with the most difficult target slope was fatal for two top favorites and started dramatically: Henrik Kristoffersen – winner of the night slalom in Garmisch-Partenkirchen – actually wanted to set the first target time, but the otherwise so concentrated Norwegian made a bad mistake in the upper area drove past the gate and had to climb up the mountain.
That cost time and robbed the Norwegian of all chances for the second round. Kristoffersen wasn’t the only top driver who left Adelboden disappointed. Clement Noel was also a spectator in the final. He retired after a mistake in the first round. Such a mistake happened to Johannes Strolz in the final round. The winner of the previous year threaded in and was eliminated. After a strong season last year, the Austrian, who as a young athlete lived together with Straßer in the boarding school, is sick.
Four Germans eliminated
The same fate befell Fabian Himmelsbach (SC Sonthofen) and Adrian Meisen (SC Garmisch). They didn’t reach the goal. Sebastian Holzmann (41./SC Oberstdorf) and David Ketterer (45./SSC Schwenningen) didn’t have enough time to present themselves again in the second round.