Olympic champion Noel earns 4th slalom win of season. Pinheiro Braathen gets 2nd podium for Brazil

KITZBUEHEL, Austria (AP) — Olympic champion Clement Noel won his fourth World Cup slalom of the season Sunday, triumphing after first-run leaders Timon Haugan and Steven Amiez both faltered on one of the most challenging courses on the circuit.

Noel climbed from fourth position to win the race, 0.09 seconds ahead of Alex Vinatzer of Italy while Lucas Pinheiro Braathen was 0.19 behind in third to earn his second podium result since his switch to the Brazilian federation.

Haugan, a one-time winner this season, posted the fastest time in the opening run but the Norwegian skied out of his second even before reaching the first split time. Amiez also fell early in his second run but the Frenchman still completed the course and ended at the back of the field.

The outcome left Noel as the only skier with more than one slalom victory this season.

“Kitzbuehel has been my favorite for a really long time,” said the Frenchman, who previously won the classic race in the Austrian resort in 2019.

“That was six years ago, and then I struggled a lot on this hill the last few races here. So, it's really crazy for me to win here today.”

Noel's triumph came with the Alpine skiing world championships nearing at another Austrian venue, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, where the men's slalom is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 16.

“Of course, my biggest goal of the season are still the world championships, but Kitzbuehel is close behind. This is so important for me,” Noel said.

Pinheiro Braathen, starting for Brazil this season after leaving the Norwegian federation and taking a year off, previously finished third in a slalom in Beaver Creek, Colorado, in December for Brazil's first ever World Cup podium in Alpine skiing.

“Kitzbuehel is my highlight... I was so nervous today, Kitzbuehel means so much to me,” Pinheiro Braathen told Austrian TV.

“This magic only exists here. For me, it's such a warm experience when I ski here, I'm just having fun and I'm smiling.”

Noel went top of the slalom standings, 29 points clear of world champion Henrik Kristoffersen. The Norwegian straddled a gate early in the rain-affected first run and failed to finish.

The rain became heavier during the race, limiting visibility for racers.

Albert Popov, winner of a night slalom in Italy last month, moved his finger like a windshield wiper after the Bulgarian finished his opening run 1.3 seconds off the lead. Popov ultimately placed 14th.

Dave Ryding, the first ever British skier to win a World Cup race when he triumphed in Kitzbuehel three years ago, shared 16th with his teammate Laurie Taylor.

The slalom concluded the 85th edition of the classic Hahnenkamm races, the World Cup event with the highest prize money, with each race winner earning 100,000 Swiss francs, compared to 47,000 for nearly all other races.

Next up are two night races: a GS and a slalom in Schladming on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen competes in an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Wengen, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

France's Clement Noel reacts after completing an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Kitzbühel, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

From left, second placed Italy's Alex Vinatzer, the winner France's Clement Noel and third placed Brazil' Lucas Braathen celebrate after an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Kitzbühel, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen reacts at the finish area of an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Wengen, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.(Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

The winner France's Clement Noel celebrates with the team after an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Kitzbühel, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

The winner France's Clement Noel celebrates after an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Kitzbühel, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Kitzbühel, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

France's Steven Amiez speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom in Kitzbühel, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Norway's Timon Haugan speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Kitzbühel, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”

New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)