The World Cup slalom season witnessed a significant upset as a rising star clinched his second victory on Sunday, further enhancing his reputation ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. Paco Rassat impressed by clocking the fastest time in the second run, moving up from fourth place to secure the win with a time of 1 minute 55.22 seconds in Adelboden, Switzerland. This performance pushed two Norwegian skiers off the podium, with Atle Lie McGrath finishing 0.18 seconds behind and Henrik Kristoffersen dropping to third, trailing Rassat by 0.20 seconds.
A 27-year-old Frenchman, Rassat had previously achieved a career-best ninth place in World Cup races before the current season. With two wins, a third-place finish, and two sixth-place finishes this season, Rassat is now considered a strong contender for an Olympic medal in Italy. The men’s slalom event is scheduled for February 16 in Bormio.
Reflecting on his victory, Rassat expressed his disbelief at winning on the challenging Adelboden slope, describing his season as a “magnificent surprise.” Erik Read was the sole Canadian participant in the race but did not complete his opening run. Additionally, Rassat took the lead in the World Cup slalom standings, surpassing his French teammate Clement Noel, the defending Olympic champion, who tied for eighth place in the event.
McGrath, the runner-up in the Adelboden slalom for the third time in four years, shared his excitement about his performance on the demanding slope and the support from the enthusiastic crowd. A moment of silence was observed before the competition in memory of the victims of a recent fatal fire in a bar near Crans-Montana. Meanwhile, the men’s World Cup circuit is set to continue in central Switzerland with the Lauberhorn meeting at Wengen, featuring a super-G on Friday, a downhill on Saturday, and a slalom on Sunday.
Turning to the women’s events, weather conditions led to the cancellation of the women’s super-G race in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria, denying Lindsey Vonn the opportunity for another World Cup win. The challenging weather, including strong snowfall and wind, did not meet safety standards, prompting the cancellation. With only two super-G races remaining before the Olympics, Vonn remains a strong medal contender in the upcoming events.
The next women’s World Cup race is a night slalom scheduled for Tuesday in Flachau, Austria, leading up to the highly anticipated Winter Olympics in February.