Dave Ryding snatches brilliant bronze at Madonna di Campiglio night slalom, Marco Schwarz tops overall standings

BySportsbeat

Updated 23/12/2023 at 16:32 GMT

Britain's Dave Ryding recovered from 15th after the first runs to secure a brilliant bronze in the Madonna di Campiglio night slalom. It was the seventh World Cup medal of the 37-year-old's career, who admitted he thinks about retirement "every day". Marco Schwarz took victory to leapfrog Marco Odermatt in the overall standings, while Frenchman and Olympic champion Clement Noel finished second.

'Nice Christmas present' - Ryding delighted after securing World Cup bronze

Great Britain’s Dave Ryding secured the sixth slalom World Cup medal of his career and seventh in total with a third-place finish at Madonna di Campiglio.

The evergreen Brit was 15th after the first run but was within a second of early leader Clement Noel before he set the second fastest time of the day on his next effort to vault 12 places up the leaderboard.

Ryding briefly led the night slalom after that stunning run until he was toppled by Marco Schwarz and Noel.

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Speaking to Eurosport afterwards, Ryding said: "It was close again, but just this time I was the right side, so [it's a] nice Christmas present, and still got it.

"I never expect it [a podium], I always think this could be my last one, but every time I surprise myself.

"Really happy with my skiing, thanks to my team-mates and my team for pushing me, so we go again.

"Every training day is like a race, and if I'm not on my 'A' game, then I'm getting my a** kicked. That's the secret, a lot of hard trainings and pushing each other, and soon it will be them also.

Asked whether he has psychological help with his skiing, Ryding added: "No, I just have to remind myself that whoever fights the most and whoever has the most passion is going to do the best.

"I try to find myself, not going to war, but going as hard as I can against the other guys, and he who battles the most has the best chance."

Standing on the top step of the podium was Schwarz, who continued Austria's early season charge.

Team Austria swept the opening technical race of the season at Gurgl in November, and Schwarz upgraded that silver to gold in the pre-Christmas classic.

Schwarz was sixth after his first effort but recovered to set an overall time of 1:40.51, which earned him victory by a comfortable 0.25 seconds from Olympic champion Noel.

His sixth World Cup win moved Schwarz above Marco Odermatt in the overall, while he also tops the slalom World Cup standings.

“For sure, it’s one of the best Christmas gifts so far – to win this classic here in Madonna is unbelievable,” Schwarz said. “It’s special to win here.”

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Madonna di Campiglio