| Welcome to our weekly round-up of the thrilling world of winter sports, where the excitement of the FIS events and other global competitions has kept fans on the edge of their seats. From the snow-covered slopes to the icy tracks, here’s your dose of high-speed action, skilful manoeuvres and thrilling performances from around the world. Here’s all you need to know: FIS ALPINE SKIING WORLD CUP January 26: Kitzbühel, Austria– Clément Noël moved to the top of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup Slalom standings after clinching his fourth win of the season. The Frenchman was fourth after the first round but produced a scintillating second run to finish nine-hundredths of a second ahead of Alex Vinatzer. The Italian also had plenty to celebrate after climbing from 11th to second – his best-ever result in 70 World Cup slaloms.- Noël, 27, said: “Kitzbuhel has been my favourite for a really long time, but the last time I won here was in 2019 and then I struggled a lot in the last few races. My biggest goal of the season is still the World Championships, but Kitzbuhel is just behind. It’s so important for me so I’m really happy to be here and to win here.”- There was also an impressing showing in Sunday’s Slalom from Lucas Pinheiro Braathen who claimed third place. The Brazilian, one of the most charismatic skiers of his generation, only returned to competitive racing in October of last year after choosing to come out of retirement.- Pinheiro Braathan, who has now collected two Slalom podiums this season, said: “Honestly, I was so disappointed and just to say for the record, I would be proud of a fifth in Kitzbühel or a sixth-place or whatever… but I have a third and I have a second on this hill and it’s my dream to walk out with a Golden Gams one day. It’s missing on my shelf back home and I wanted it so bad. “January 25: Kitzbühel, Austria- James Crawford secured the first World Cup win of his career with a masterful display in the iconic Downhill event at Kitzbühel. Victory came at the 112th time of asking for the Canadian who delivered a perfect run to finish clear of Switzerland’s Alexis Monney in second and compatriot Cameron Alexander in third.- Crawford, 27, said: It’s been a dream of mine to win the classics. I was really happy that I was able to bring my best skiing today. I feel like I have been struggling to do so this year and for it to come in Kitzbühel, for it to be enough to win, it means a lot. “January 25: Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany– Sophia Goggia missed out on victory by the smallest of margins as she took second place in Saturday’s Downhill in Garmisch. The Italian finished just 0.01 seconds behind compatriot Federica Brignone but was well clear of Corinne Suter in third.- Remarkably, Goggia dislocated her shoulder while racing and was still able to finish in second. Discussing the injury, she said: “I didn’t know how to keep the position in the last part because I couldn’t move the arm, and so I was a bit in difficulty and this affected my race. I have to stabilise it, but it’s really no problem. But if you ski down with a shoulder out, it’s not so comfy. “January 24: Kitzbühel, Austria– Marco Odermatt claimed a first-ever victory in Kitzbühel as he won his second Super G race of the season. The Swiss superstar finished 0.11s clear of Austria’s Raphael Haaser, while teammate Stefan Rogentin claimed third place.- Odermatt, 27, said: “I knew it was a good run from the top to the bottom. Not the best I could show. I think in the middle section and the traverse, I could ski better. But this is Super G. I guess it’s very difficult; the most difficult discipline to have a perfect run from the first until the last gate. ”January 21: Kronplatz, Italy– New Zealand’s Alice Robinson claimed her first FIS World Cup victory in four years on Tuesday when she came back from fifth in the giant slalom first run to shock the field – a fourth World Cup win of her career. The Kiwi produced a sensational second run to finish 0.56s ahead of Lara Gut-Behrami in second with American Paula Moltzan third and Albanian 18-year-old Lara Colturi just off the podium in a superb fourth.- Robinson, 23, said: “It’s been four years since I last won and there were definitely some times in those four years where I wasn’t sure if I was going to win again, so to be back and winning here is just so special. My family’s here to watch, and I guess it’s just a lot. “Explore more Winter Sports content HERE. |
