Industry News
In a race marked by challenging conditions and dramatic turns of fortune, Clement Noël from France claimed victory in Saturday’s Slalom on the legendary Chuenisbärgli piste. Battling fog, falling snow, and one of the World Cup circuit’s steepest courses, Noël overcame personal history and tough competition to notch his third win of the season. The Olympic champion delivered a stirring comeback after trailing Austria’s Manuel Feller by 0.38 seconds in the first run. Despite a significant error in his second run, Noël’s relentless push on the steep pitch allowed him to edge out Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, now competing for Brazil, by just 0.02 seconds and Henrik Kristoffersen from Norway by 0.14 seconds.
“Adelboden has always been a bit of a struggle for me,” Noël admitted, reflecting on five previous DNFs in seven attempts on this course. “I did my first podium here in 2019, but since then it was really difficult for me. Now I think I can comfortably say that I really love Adelboden, and today it was really an incredible victory for me.”
Run 1
Germany’s Linus Strasser, starting first, laid down an impressive time of 55.18 seconds, only to be surpassed by Manuel Feller, who led by 0.25 seconds. Noël finished the first run in third, 0.13 seconds behind Strasser. The top six included a strong Norwegian contingent, with Timon Haugan in fourth, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen in fifth, and Henrik Kristoffersen in sixth.
Team USA saw mixed results, with Jett Seymour and Ben Ritchie qualifying for Run 2 in 27th and 30th, respectively. River Radamus and Luke Winters failed to make the cut, finishing 47th and 52nd.
Run 2
The second run, held in reverse order of qualification, proved even more grueling as visibility worsened. Ben Ritchie opened the run for the Americans, finishing 21st overall after a solid effort. Teammate Jett Seymour climbed to 17th with a strong performance. Croatia’s Filip Zubcic, starting 21st, delivered the second-fastest time of Run 2, briefly taking the lead before Austria’s Fabio Gstrein dethroned him.
As the top six qualifiers took to the course, Henrik Kristoffersen delivered a fantastic run, claiming the leader’s chair. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, bolstered by the day’s fastest second run among the top competitors, temporarily moved into first, delighting the Swiss crowd. But Noël, undeterred by a significant mistake at the top of the steep pitch, powered through to reclaim the lead and secure victory. Manuel Feller, the halfway leader, straddled a gate near the top of the course, ending his bid with a DNF. Linus Strasser also faltered on the steep section, finishing fourth.
Noël’s win was especially meaningful, given his struggles with the Chuenisbärgli piste and recent recovery from an ankle injury. “In the steep part, I thought, ‘OK, it’s done, the mistake is too big,’ but I stayed focused and pushed as much as possible. I was surprised to see the green light at the finish,” he said.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen celebrated his first Slalom podium since switching national allegiances, describing the day as “beyond grateful” and relishing the adoration of the crowd. Henrik Kristoffersen, now the leader in the World Cup Slalom standings, expressed satisfaction with his podium finish on a challenging day, stating, “Fourteen hundredths behind Noël could have been possible, but that’s skiing. I’m very happy.”
The treacherous course claimed several top contenders. Slalom leader Loïc Meillard from Switzerland straddled a gate on Run 1, while Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath and Croatia’s Samuel Kolega also exited early. Wednesday’s Madonna di Campiglio winner, Albert Popov from Bulgaria, finished a disappointing 16th after an early mistake in Run 1.
Despite the harsh conditions, the Adelboden crowd was treated to a thrilling race that showcased resilience and exceptional skill. “I know you were here to see the giant slalom today,” Noël quipped in his victory speech. “But I hope you enjoyed the show.”
