Alex Vinatzer, stunning comeback and near podium in Val d’Isère

Supergara for the Azzurri in the slalom that closes the Val d’Isère weekend. Alex Vinatzer, 25th in the middle of the race, took full advantage of the better conditions of the second fraction to recover an impressive 21 positions and finish the race in 4th place, with the best time of the heat and 1″10 behind the winner, Timon Haugan.

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But excellent was also the performance of Tommaso Sala, who finished the first fraction in ninth place, despite starting with bib number 29. In the second, the Brianzolo was not satisfied and recovered another 2 positions to finish in seventh place 1″38 behind the leader. Two azzurri in the top ten had not been seen for many years in slalom (precisely since Razzoli was sixth and Vinatzer ninth in the Garmisch slalom on February 27, 2022), and now Italy becomes the first opponent of Norway (four in the six) and Switzerland, on the podium with Meillard.
So victory for Haugan in 1’37″89, ahead of Meillard by 28 hundredths and Kristoffersen by 34. Then Vinatzer, and Sala in seventh place.

“For a moment I believed in the podium,” Vinatzer said, “however, going up from 25th to 4th is more than good. I take these very positive races and bring the best feelings to Alta Badia. I will try to improve again in the skiing on the mark. But I go away with a smile. In the first run it was a gift to start with 5, because it was already seen last year that it is possible to recover many positions. Maybe I made some small mistakes in the second run, but it is definitely is a good run. The track splits a little bit as the athletes go by, but that’s how slalom is. The speed on the track was not great, you had to be very responsive.”

“It was very tough,” said Sala. “I like the slope. When the technique is tough you can see the qualities of the real slalomist. In the second run it’s always dark, and the cards get shuffled. I am really happy to be in the top ten in the third race and starting from behind.”

But Tobias Kastlunger came out in the second heat. Tommaso Saccardi (by two tenths), Matteo Canins had not qualified for the second one, while Simon Maurberger had gone out.