After dropping out of the slalom, Loïc Meillard is making a strong comeback in the giant slalom. The 28-year-old Frenchman leads after the first run in Adelboden ahead of Henrik Kristoffersen and Marco Odermatt.
12.01.2025, 11:26
SDA
This is how he had actually been expected the day before: With start number 1, Meillard set a time that his competitors were unable to beat. After four slalom podiums this season, the man from Neuchâtel is now well on his way to finishing in the top 3 in the giant slalom for the first time. His best result in the four races so far was 9th place in Val d'Isère.
Meillard also left "Adelboden specialist" Odermatt behind him. The man from Nidwalden, who is aiming for his fourth win in a row on the Chuenisbärgli, did not have an optimal run, but made up a lot of time with a strong performance on the finish slope and put himself in position for the second run. Third-placed Odermatt is 34 hundredths off the leading Meillard.
Thomas Tumler could also have a say in the podium places in the Bernese Oberland. The winner of Beaver Creek is 68 hundredths behind in 5th place. Henrik Kristoffersen and Atle Lie McGrath, both Norwegians, are ranked between the three Swiss. Luca Aerni is in 16th place.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, Saturday's slalom runner-up, was eliminated, as was Swiss skier Fadri Janutin. They will therefore be missing from the second run, which starts at 1.30 pm.
