Ski Alpin: Hirscher wants to prevent Kristoffersen hat-trick

With the parallel slalom in Courchevel, the ladies have slipped into the Christmas break, the men are still competing in Madonna di Campiglio’s slalom night classic two days before the celebration. Marcel Hirscher is on the 22nd day. December its 22. Slalom victory as well as the overall World Cup lead. Henrik Kristofferson was, of course, the last two times unbeatable in Madonna.

The Norwegian won both 2015 and 2016, ahead of Hirscher, who had again been successful in the great Madonna comeback in 2012. His three places on the podium there – in 2015 despite a dangerous attack by the drones – but above all his latest slalom victory in Val d’ Isere make the Austrian a favourite.

The duel between Hirscher and Kristoffersen is in Madonna, at least, the big topic next to the 30th birthday. Anniversary of Alberto Tomba’s first victory on the “Canalone Miramonti” in 1987. Kristoffersen is already eleven points ahead of Hirscher in the overall World Cup ranking after five second places and is eagerly awaiting his first win of the season, which would probably secure him the Madonna hat-trick as the first runner in front of an estimated 15,000 spectators.

“I’m really looking forward to Madonna,”Kristoffersen said confidently before the last slalom of 2017. But he was aware of the fact that he might find an overpowering opponent, the 23-year-old said,”If Marcel drives like in Alta Badia, he is the favourite. His skiing at the moment is unbelievable”, Kristoffersen scattered the Salzburg roses.

Hirscher completely overcame his ankle fracture in August and arrived on Thursday after two days of training at the Reiteralm with full motivation.”One more time at full throttle”is his motto:”Here it has often gone well for me, but I’ve already gone into my pants,”he warned, of course, and reminded me of 7th place in 2014.

Hirscher, for his part, called out double Madonna winner Kristoffersen to be the top favourite and somehow the slalom duel there is also a substitute for the fight in the overall World Cup at the end of the first third of the season.”Whoever wants to beat him must beat Henrik. The only way is through him”, the six-time overall winner from Austria is convinced. Hirscher achieves his 49th birthday on Friday evening. World Cup victory, he is only one more win behind Tomba (50).

In 2015, the drones affair overshadowed Marco Schwarz’s third place, who had for the first time rushed into the middle of the world’s top ranks. In Madonna I had my first podium in Madonna,”he recalls. That’s why I love to drive here all the time,”said Schwarz,”The track comes towards me and I’m really good at the crossovers,”the Atomic pilot hopes that the spectacular atmosphere will drive him to the first podium of the season.”Shortly before Christmas he hopes to have another big event like this, that’s cool.”

Contrary to Schwarz, Michael Matt already has an important top result in his pocket with fourth place in Val d’ Isere:”Physically it fits, so does the form,”reported the Arlberger,”In Val d’ Isere the fourth place was already good. I’ve had two or three mistakes, and I was still there. That means the speed fits right.”

Matt is also looking for the first podium finish of the Olympic Winter season:”That’s self-evident if you drive well twice,” he says,”The Tyrolean is also a fan of the Madonna spectacle,” The race is very casual. At the start you hear the spectators at the finish line. It is similar to Schladming,”Matt described the mood. The slope is also good for him:”Flat, steep, transitions, everything in it. It’s very varied.”

Whether Manuel Feller will be able to fight for his first World Cup podium place at all is decided relatively quickly because of the capsule strain in his left knee suffered last Sunday in Alta Badia. The 25-year-old Tyrolean travelled to Madonna, but will decide on a start shortly before the race.

Because of Feller’s (too) later cancellation for the PGS in Alta Badia there had been criticism, because a replacement of another rider had not been possible. Feller reacted with a Facebook video from the series “Felli speaks his mind” and asked the critics not to spread any lies or rumors. The Tyrolean had made a World Cup point, although he hadn’t ridden on Monday evening.