Alpine ski World Cup 23/24: Germany's Linus Strasser upsets big names in Kitzbühel slalom
Strasser walked away with the spoils on the demanding Kitzbühel course for his fourth career World Cup victory. Sweden's Kristoffer Jakobsen finised second and Daniel Yule third.
Alpine Skiing
Germany’s Linus Strasser upset some of the favourites to claim a career fourth FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup victory with his win in the men’s slalom in Kitzbühel, Austria, on Sunday (21 January).
The victory is almost two years to the day since he last claimed the top step of the podium also in the slalom at the World Cup in Schladming, Austria, in January 2022.
The course proved tricky, with some of the big names, such as Atle Lie McGrath and Olympic champion Clement Noel, registering DNFs behind their names.
Strasser rose to the occasion as the final three skiers failed to turn their small advantages into victory. The German leapfrogged Manuel Feller, who leads the discipline standings after winning three of the five slalom races this season, and last year’s winner, Daniel Yule, to claim victory.
Sweden’s Kristoffer Jakobsen looked set for his first World Cup win after posting the fastest time of the opening run with a precarious 0.05-second lead over Yule. Just 0.42 separated the top five skiers going into the second run.
Strasser’s blistering second run ultimately clinched the victory, edging Jakobsen into second place with a combined time of one minute, 40.36 seconds (1:40.36). Jakobsen would rue a missed opportunity for a maiden victory, settling for runner-up, just 0.14 off the lead. Yule rounded out the podium, clocking 1:40.56.
Feller, who finished fourth, still leads the World Cup slalom standings, while the victory launched Strasser seven places into second place, 187 points adrift.
Kitzbühel, FIS World Cup: Results from men's slalom, 21 January 2024 (top 10)
- Linus Strasser (GER) 1:40.36
- Kristoffer Jakobsen (SWE) +0.14
- Daniel Yule (SUI) +0.20
- Manuel Feller (AUT) +0.79
- Dave Ryding (GBR) +0.96
- Steven Amiez (FRA) +1.51
- Dominik Raschner (AUT) +1.53
- Loic Meillard (SUI) +1.84
- Tommaso Sala (ITA) +1.96
- Marc Rochat (SUI) +2.05