The podium is within reach of Loïc Meillard in the slalom of the Beijing Olympics. The skier from Hérémence set the 4th fastest time in the first run, dominated by the Austrian Johannes Strolz.
Eliminated in combined and in giant, Loïc Meillard conceded 0”30 to the Olympic champion in combined. “I didn’t necessarily have a good feeling on the skis. I’m surprised to have lost so little”he noted at the microphone of the RTS.
The Norwegians Henrik Kristoffersen and Sebastian Foss-Solevaag, respectively 2nd and 3rd, are 0”02 and 0”06 behind Johannes Strolz. The fight therefore promises to be extremely indecisive from 06:45 in the 2nd round. No less than 7 runners lost less than half a second on Johannes Strolz!
But Loïc Meillard is the only Swiss to be part of this pack of pursuers. Olympic vice-champion in 2018 in PyeongChang and 2nd best Swiss on this first route, Ramon Zenhäusern achieved the 11th time, 0”80 from the provisional leader. Daniel Yule (13th at 1”14) and Luca Aerni (19th at 1”71) will have to deliver a second round of fire to approach the podium.
ats/friends
Slalom – 1st run (16.02)
Combined: Shiffrin in shot in practice, Holdener 2nd
Mikaela Shiffrin will be the woman to beat in the Olympic combined on Thursday in Yanqing. The American set the best downhill training time, ahead of Wendy Holdener. In search of a first medal in these Games, Mikaela Shiffrin won with a margin of 0”93 over the Schwyzoise. Defending champion Michelle Gisin clocked the 4th fastest time in a training session in which only 14 skiers took part.
