Chasing his second consecutive World Cup slalom victory, France’s Clément Noël held a comfortable advantage following the first leg of the night race Wednesday on the steep Canalone Miramonti course.
Noël stood .53 seconds ahead of world champion Sebastian Foss-Solevåg of Norway and .70 ahead of Kristoffer Jakobsen of Sweden.
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Chasing his second consecutive World Cup slalom victory, France’s Clément Noël held a comfortable advantage following the first leg of the night race Wednesday on the steep Canalone Miramonti course.
Noël claimed his first World Cup victory this season on home snow in Val d’Isère 10 days ago, then also won a second-tier Europa Cup race in Val di Fassa on Sunday.
The short Canalone course features a “Muro” (wall) with a gradient of 65% midway down.
Switzerland's Ramon Zenhaeusern speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021. (AP PhotoGabriele Facciotti)
Germany's Linus Strasser speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021. (AP PhotoGabriele Facciotti)
The 24-year-old Noël is attempting to become the first man to win the opening two slaloms of a season since eight-time overall champion Marcel Hirscher, who is now retired, accomplished the feat in 2018-19.
France's Clement Noel speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021. (AP PhotoAlessandro Trovati)
Noël claimed his first World Cup victory this season on home snow in Val d’Isère 10 days ago, then also won a second-tier Europa Cup race in Val di Fassa on Sunday.
Foss-Solevåg, who took gold at the worlds in Cortina d’Ampezzo, last season, finished second in this race a year ago.
Jakobsen is coming off a second-place finish in Val d’Isère that marked the first podium result of his career.
Sweden's Kristoffer Jakobsen speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021. (AP PhotoAlessandro Trovati)
The short Canalone course features a “Muro” (wall) with a gradient of 65% midway down.
Austrians Marco Schwarz and Manuel Feller both failed to finish their runs.
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Norway's Sebastian Foss Solevaag speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021. (AP PhotoGabriele Facciotti)
Switzerland's Ramon Zenhaeusern speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021. (AP PhotoGabriele Facciotti)
Germany's Linus Strasser speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021. (AP PhotoGabriele Facciotti)