Henrik Kristoffersen nets World Cup slalom victory in Wengen after fine second run, Loic Meillard denied home win

Published 15/01/2023 at 13:59 GMT

Henrik Kristoffersen blew the competition out of the water with a superb second run, despite the hugely-challenging conditions in Switzerland. It was the 30th World Cup career victory for the Norwegian. Meanwhile, home hope Loic Meillard agonisingly missed out on a first win of the season, after leading from the first run. The podium was completed by Lucas Braathen, who came third.

‘That was brilliant. One of the best we’ve seen’ - Kristoffersen storms to slalom success in Wengen

Henrik Kristoffersen's stunning second run secured victory in the men's slalom after a pulsating finish to the race in Wengen.

Kristoffersen emerged victorious with a time of 1:51.18, two hundredths of a second ahead of Switzerland's Loic Meillard, while Lucas Braathen came third with a time of 1:51.67.

Meillard led the way after the first run with a time of 57.13, but ultimately failed to register his first win of the season.

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Speaking after the race, Kristoffersen said: "It was a very good race; the conditions in the second run were tough.

“It was a nice course and felt I had good preparation on the course despite the weather.”

Kristoffersen was 0.45 seconds back from Meillard after the first run with a time of 57.58 and was well in contention at that stage to secure his third World Cup victory at Wengen.

His compatriot Lucas Braathen was three hundredths of a second further adrift with a time of 57.61, as he searched for a sixth career World Cup win.

British No. 1 Dave Ryding was bib No. 14 and finished in the same position following the first run, to comfortably secure his place in the top 30 and a second run at the course.

Meanwhile, fellow Brit Laurie Taylor missed the cut in 38th, while Billy Major was one of 30 skiers that scored a DNF after the first run.

The weather conditions deteriorated heading into the second run, as some increasingly heavy snowfall began to descend on the course.

Sweden's Kristoffer Jakobsen and Benjamin Ritchie both also recorded DNFs in the second run after registering respectable first run times of 1:00.79 and 1:02.54 respectively.

As the race reached its final nine riders, it was Marco Schwarz that led the way with a cumulative time of 1:53.04, but was quickly usurped by Clement Noel.

The Frenchman, who had already recorded two previous slalom wins at Wengen, propelled himself into the lead with a time of 1:52.99.

However, the lead constantly changed hands as the race reached its climax, with Atle Lie McGrath, Linus Strasser and Braathen all taking the lead ahead of the final two skiers.

Kristoffersen then produced a masterful second run time of 53.60 which was enough for a 30th World Cup career victory, as the penultimate skier to take his second run.

‘Very good race’ - Kristoffersen delighted to secure slalom win in Wengen

Meillard was last out of the traps and fell agonisingly short right at the death in a dramatic conclusion to the race as he was denied a win on home snow.

Meanwhile, Britain's Ryding failed to significantly trouble the top places, achieving a respectable 21st finish, 4.44 seconds behind Kristoffersen.

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