In challenging conditions, even more in the second run under the snowfall, Henrik Kristoffersen claimed today his second World Cup victory of the season, the second one for the Van Deer Skis, in the Classic Slalom in Wengen.
Kristoffersen has won the World Cup Slalom race in Wengen three times, in 2016, 2017, and 2023. The 28-year-old Norwegian has now 30 World Cup victories and 79 podiums.
With 23 wins Henrik Kristoffersen is fourth in the all-time list for most Slalom victories in the men's World Cup, behind Ingemar Stenmark (40), Alberto Tomba (35) and Marcel Hirscher (32).
Since the Beijing Olympics last February, the Norwegians have now won 8 of the 9 Slalom events in the Men's World Cup. Lucas Braathen and Atle Lie McGrath won two each. Henrik Kristoffersen got the other four. The exception was Daniel Yule's victory at Madonna di Campiglio.
The 100 points allows Henrik Kristoffersen to move to the top of the slalom standings (320), 10 points ahead of teammate Lucas Braathen (310).
"It's a great success. I heard that Lucas was a second ahead, so I had to full attack. I just had to push and be smart. Of course I was emotional after finishing. When I saw I beat Lucas by half a second I was happy, for sure", said Kristoffersen.
Loic Meillard finished in second place 0.20 seconds behind the Norwegian. It is his 13th World Cup podium, the fourth one in the Slalom discipline, the second one this season (he finished third in Val d’Isère). Meillard made it onto the podium in three disciplines this season. He had previously achieved a third place in the Giant Slalom in adelboden, another two third places in the Slalom in Val d'Isère and in the Super-G in Bormio. This makes Meillard the first skier since Marcel Hirscher in the 2015-2016 season to have made it onto the podium in Giant Slalom, Slalom and Super-G podiums in the same winter.
"It was very difficult to attack properly and still keep going. After a few turns, I found my way into the line well, then I lost my rhythm and it took me a while before I could push again", said Meillard.
Kristoffersen's teammate Lucas Braathen rounded out the podium 0.49 seconds off the pace. It's his 9th podium in the World Cup.
"It was such a cool race. I'm happy with my third place in such a difficult race. The steep slope and the snowfall felt unreal. The piste is as difficult as in Adelboden, but the course setting makes it feel like cross-country skiing to me", said Braathen.
The Norwegian men had a great weekend in Wengen with Henrik Kristoffersen winning the Slalom and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde taking the double in the speed events.