KITZBUEHEL, Austria — Norwegian skier Kristoffer Jakobsen edged the pre-race favorites in the first run to lead the men’s World Cup slalom at the classic Hahnenkamm races Sunday.
Wearing bib 20, Jakobsen was not among the fastest starters but had an all-attacking run on the rest of the demanding Ganslern course to beat Daniel Yule by 0.05 seconds. The Swiss skier won the race last year and in 2020.
“I was almost feeling easy all the way,” Jakobsen said. “I tried to go clean into the turns and that apparently was pretty good.”
Manuel Feller, who led the discipline standings after winning three of the four slaloms this season, placed third and had 0.23 to make up in the second run later Sunday.
Feller is aiming to become the first skier since fellow Austrian Marcel Hirscher six years ago to win at least four slaloms in one season.
Germany’s Linus Strasser and Olympic champion Clement Noel of France completed the tight leading group of five. Sixth-placed Loic Meillard, a teammate of Yule’s, was 0.99 off the lead.
World champion Henrik Kristoffersen trailed his Norwegian teammate by 2.51 seconds and only just qualified for the second run in 30th and last position.
Sweden’s Kristoffer Jakobsen competes during the first run of an alpine ski, men’s World Cup slalom race, in Kitzbuehel, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. Credit: AP/Marco Trovati
Jakobsen failed to finish the opening run in his last three slaloms, having started the season in November by placing 11th at another resort in the Austrian Alps, Gurgl.
“My goal is just to make the finish line today,” he said.
Jakobsen has two podium results from 84 World Cup starts, finishing second and third in two slaloms in December 2021.
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