Alpine skiing
Straßer and Co.: A bitter setback for the slalom stars
It’s not just German skiing hope Linus Straßer who is leaving Gurgl disappointed. Marcel Hirscher and the best slalom rider from last season also suffered further setbacks. A Frenchman shines.
Linus Straßer was visibly upset. The German hopeful suffered a serious setback in the second slalom of the Alpine ski season. The start of the winter has been unsuccessful, the Frenchman Clement Noel is now the hunted in the race for the crystal ball for the best goal runner – and the returnee Marcel Hirscher is far from the great successes of the past in his flagship discipline.
Straßer struggles with his material
“It was a fight from the first goal to the last,” said Straßer after his messed up performance in Gurgl. Like the other German starters, the Munich player did not make it into the second round in 38th place and therefore did not make it into the points. After finishing second in the slalom rankings last season, Straßer is considered one of the top candidates for overall victory this winter. A week ago he came seventh in Levi, Finland. Now the zero number in Ötztal. Straßer will have to shake himself up and regroup – in order to attack again in Val d’Isère in mid-December.
“It was really bitter. I noticed right up there that I was just following the skis,” Straßer told ARD. The five-time World Cup winner started the race with start number one, but had major problems on the icy slopes and the rotating course – especially with his material. “It wasn’t fun,” he said.
Former ski star Felix Neureuther also suffered. “I’m so sorry,” he said in his role as a TV expert. “Linus can’t really do anything about it. If you choose the wrong setup based on the material, you have no chance. He can do so much.”
Hirscher lacks important experience
The same applies to Hirscher. The eight-time overall World Cup winner had similar problems to Straßer and also missed the final of the top 30 in the second slalom after his five-year break from competition. The 35-year-old was initially running quickly, but then slipped after a mistake on the steep slope and was eliminated.
Hirscher explained that he used to love icy conditions. But: “My book of memories or training sessions from which you get feedback is almost empty,” he explained to Eurosport. “I used to have a whole Bible that was written all over it.”
Feller still without a point – Noel on top
The competition and material have evolved in the absence of the veteran star. The Austrian, who now drives for the Netherlands, is considered a great inventor. But he will have to come up with something to reconnect to the front.
Just like Straßer or Manuel Feller. The Austrian won the slalom ball last season, but has not yet finished a single race across disciplines this winter. Noel is completely different: the Olympic champion from Beijing triumphed in both Levi and Gurgl. While other stars are struggling, the Frenchman is currently the measure of all things when it comes to scoring goals.
dpa
