Alpine skiing – Garmisch-Partenkirchen / 1st round: Meillard in the lead, Pinturault in the game, Noël out of the race

Who can pick it up? Loic Meillard achieved a huge performance this Sunday during the first run of the second slalom in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Already on the podium the day before, the Swiss slapped the competition and pushed back his first pursuers, his compatriot Ramon Zenhaeusern and Johannes Strolz, just over half a second (+0 “51). For the Blues , feelings are mixed after a tricky Saturday: Alexis Pinturault reacted well to take 5th time, while Clément Noël got off the track…

Olympic slalom champion in Beijing, the Vosgien makes a cross on the small globe of the specialty. Not really helped by the draw (bib N.7), the 24-year-old skier was trapped in the wall and cracked after ten gates. It is his fifth zero of the winter, the second in two days after his failure in the second set on Saturday.

Nice reaction from Pinturault

Not really in the game either during the first Bavarian meeting, Pinturault on the other hand reacted well this Sunday morning. Starting with bib 13, the holder of the big crystal globe quite simply managed his best slalom run of the year despite a somewhat shy first leg. Strong halfway up the slope, more relaxed, the Habs cut the line with the fifth time, 0.69 from the reference.

It will still be necessary to be very strong in the second race to get a podium. Firstly because Meillard skied perfectly from start to finish to build up a comfortable margin. Then because the outsiders, many, are in a pocket handkerchief. Besides Zenhaeusern and Strolz, Sebastian Foss Solevaag (+0″80), Manuel Feller (+0″80) and Henrik Kirstoffersen (+0″88) all have a good card to play. Spaniard Joaquin Salarich, author of the fourth time (0″55) with bib 49… and after being 7 tenths behind at the first inter! Meet at 12:30 p.m.