Clement Noel Dominates Initial Run on Shiny Ice – Exciting Finale Ahead

Clement Noel GEPA pictures/ Mathias Mandl

France’s Clement Noel leads after the initial run on the Canalone Miramonti, Madonna di Campiglio slalom venue. Bib three adorned Clement Noel as he navigated a surface resembling nothing but shiny ice. The warm temperatures made the surface ski much like those found inside the ski domes used by many for training and testing, perfect. He skied a nearly flawless run using excellent timing and balanced technique to earn a (-0.37) advantage over Switzerland’s Loic Meillard and bib 15 Norway’s Timon Haugen.

Nearly matching Meillard and Haugen was Bulgaria’s bib 16 Albert Popov, who used the excellent conditions and his well-known energy to finish the first run fourth. Popov has put himself in an ideal situation to earn his second career podium. Last year’s winner, Daniel Yule, will be ranked 5th at the beginning of the evening’s finale. Undoubtedly, it will be an exciting race, with the fastest seven all within (0.70) and the fastest 15 all within a second of the flying Frenchman.

North American Success

The FIS and the local race crew’s efforts deserve more thanks regarding the conditions they created. Excellent skiing is consistently rewarded when the snow is of such high quality. The first North American to earn his reward was former US Ski Team member now skiing for Greece, AJ Ginnis. Ginnis earned a World Cup and World Championship medal last season and displayed his skill today. Ginnis will start the final run ranked 16th (+1.01). Veteran Canadian Erik Read secured his spot in the late evening run, claiming 24th place with a time difference of (+1.80). He will have an early start position and a great chance to advance up the leaderboard.

North American struggles

Unfortunately, US men’s slalom struggles continue. First, Luke Winters, the most successful current slalom skier of the Stifel US Ski Men’s Team, was skiing well when he stumbled, causing poor timing and missing a gate. The next Stifel US Ski Team member to race was Jett Seymour. He was also skiing close to the qualifying time when he missed his timing and straddled. Their teammate Ben Ritchie did cross the finish, but after struggling on the pitch, he was too far out to qualify. In his second career World Cup start, US independent Jimmy Krupka lost a ski and didn’t find the finish.

The two other Canadians who competed in the Madonna di Campiglio night slalom could not qualify. The talented Liam Wallace finished right behind Ritchie and former Middlebury Panther Justin Alkier was attacking but exceeded his limit and skied out.

Late bib success

Seven athletes with start numbers above 30 could qualify for the finale. The fastest of the group was bib 39, Germany’s Anton Tremmel 17th (+1.18). The last to do so was bib 58 France’s Hugo Desgrippes 29th (+1.91). A time difference of (+1.94) separated the fastest 30.

Top 30 first run results and analysis of the fastest three and North American Erik Read.

Analysis of the fastest three and qualified North Americans.