The World Cup slalom season witnessed an unexpected standout clinching his second victory on Sunday, further solidifying his status ahead of the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina next month. Paco Rassat surged to victory with the fastest time in the second run, moving up from fourth place and clocking in at one minute 55.22 seconds. This impressive performance pushed two Norwegian competitors off the podium, despite their strong showing in the morning run in Adelboden, Switzerland. Atle Lie McGrath, a United States-born skier, narrowly missed the top spot by 0.18 seconds, while first-run leader Henrik Kristoffersen settled for third place, trailing Rassat by 0.20 seconds.
Prior to this season, Rassat, a 27-year-old French athlete, had achieved a career-best ninth place in World Cup races. With two wins, a third-place finish, and two sixth-place finishes this season, he is now considered a strong contender for an Olympic medal in Italy. The men’s slalom event is scheduled for February 16 in Bormio.
Reflecting on his victory, Rassat expressed his astonishment at conquering the challenging hill in Adelboden, describing his season as a “magnificent surprise.” In the same race, Erik Read represented Canada but did not complete his opening run. Furthermore, Rassat has taken the lead in the World Cup slalom standings, surpassing his French teammate Clement Noel, the defending Olympic champion who finished tied for eighth place in the race.
McGrath, who finished as the runner-up in the Adelboden slalom for the third time in four years, shared his excitement about his performance on the demanding slope, acknowledging the mental toughness required to excel in such conditions. The event in Adelboden also paid tribute to the victims of a tragic fire in a nearby bar in Crans-Montana on New Year’s Day.
On a different note, unfavorable weather conditions in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria, led to the cancellation of the women’s super-G race, depriving United States star Lindsey Vonn of another opportunity to compete. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation explained that the cancellation was due to strong snowfall and wind, which compromised safety standards. The rescheduling of the race has not been announced yet.
As the Winter Olympics approach, the women’s super-G races in Tarvisio, Italy, and Crans-Montana, Switzerland, remain crucial events before the Games kick off on February 6. Vonn, a two-time winner of downhill races this season, is primed for a strong performance at the upcoming Olympic events in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The next women’s World Cup race is a night slalom set to take place in Flachau, Austria, on Tuesday.