Winter Olympics 2022 - Dave Ryding's race of two halves leaves slalom hopes in balance with 'painful to watch' first run

BySam Webb

Updated 16/02/2022 at 05:47 GMT

“Heart-breaking for British fans to see their number one start with two green lights at the top of the course, only to see that slip away with a mistake at the midway point," said Eurosport commentator Nick Fellows as Dave Ryding crossed the finish line in the first of the men's two slalom runs in Beijing. As Great Britain looks to Ryding for the country's first medal of the Games, can he deliver?

Dave ‘The Rocket’ Ryding exploded out onto the top of the course for his first of two runs in the men’s slalom, but one mistake at the halfway point proved costly.

The World Cup winner had looked on course for a leading time initially but he went into ninth as he crossed the finish line.

He ended Run 1 down in 16th as Johannes Strolz topped the standings, but there is hope to be had for Ryding’s supporters from the fact that the British rider is known for his second-run charges.

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The Briton will certainly need to impress in the latter half of this slalom if he is to be in with a chance of a medal.

“The 35-year-old from Lancashire needs to show his best here,” said Eurosport commentator Nick Fellows as Ryding sized up the course prior to his first run in Beijing.

After a scintillating start, which saw Ryding take a 0.18-second lead after the second split, co-commentator Finlay Mickel groaned with frustration as the Brit made an error when going wide, seeing his next split show up red.

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“It was painful there,” said Mickel.

“Very athletic from Dave to recover from that big mistake, but the time just started to go after that.

“He’s into ninth and he’ll need a real charge on the second leg.”

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Fellows called the second part of Ryding’s run “messy” as the rider looked to regain his composure after his mistake.

“He was in gold-medal position to the halfway point of the challenge,” said Fellows.

“Errors started to creep in. Dave will be the first to admit he struggled on the last steep. That green light goes so quickly.

“Heart-breaking for British fans to see their number one start with two green lights at the top of the course, only to see that slip away with a mistake at the midway point.”

Ryding will look to charge into medal contention in the men’s slalom second run, which begins at 05:45 GMT.

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Watch every moment of Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 on discovery+.

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