Ski racer Linus Straßer won the double from the Kitzbühel and Schladming slalom. Three days following the successful “Mission Gams”, the German won the legendary night race on the Planai for the second time on Wednesday following 2022. Next to him on the winner’s podium were the Norwegian Timon Haugan (+0.28 seconds) and last year’s winner Clement Noel (+1.02) from France. Austria came away empty-handed in the home spectacle. Manuel Feller once more scored good points in fifth place (+1.14).
Feller: “Of course it hurts extremely”
“Of course it hurts extremely to finish fourth and fifth at home,” said Feller in his first reaction. The discipline leader ultimately missed the podium by 12/100. After the first run he was only in eighth place. In the 27th edition of the Schladming Night Slalom, the ÖSV remained without a place on the podium for only the sixth time. Before that, 2002, 2011, 2015, 2020 and 2023 were left empty-handed.
Image: (APA/AFP/KERSTIN JOENSSON)
For Straßer, who was supported in Kitzbühel when he was young, it was his fifth World Cup victory. He remains an Austria specialist. The 31-year-old achieved three of his four slalom victories here. Straßer was the first slalom rider since Henrik Kristoffersen in 2016 and eighth overall to win the two January classics, Kitzbühel and Schladming, in the same year.
Gstrein drove from 26th place to 10th place
Fabio Gstrein catapulted himself from 26 to 10 with the best time in the second run in front of a sold-out crowd (22,500 spectators) in Styria. The Tyrolean, who was once once more prone to errors, was at least able to enjoy the spotlight in the floodlit final. Johannes Strolz was 17th, Adrian Pertl 22nd. Dominik Raschner took over following the last split. Joshua Sturm failed to pass the qualification hurdle in 32nd place, Kilian Pramstaller was eliminated. Michael Matt was missing due to a flu-like infection, Marco Schwarz was missing due to his knee injury.
