Schladming: Linus Strasser faces disaster on Planai – Henrik Kristoffersen reaches for the next victory

Linus Strasser grabbed his helmet in horror, rode up to the edge of Planai, leaned on his staff and bowed his head.

What a contradiction! A year ago, the guy from Munich won a stunning victory in the prestigious night slalom in Schladming, and this time he received the maximum punishment for a ski racer: Strasser, who broke out of the starting gate at high speed, made his way through the second gate in the first run.

In “BR,” said Strasser, who, after thinking briefly about it at the edge of the cliff, drove down into the valley in the dark. No, he added there, “It’s not a pretty experience, you look at it in disbelief.”

But he quickly emphasized: “I will not allow myself to grieve over failure as I look forward to the World Championships.”

Setback before the World Championships in Courchevel

Until then, Straßer can regain his confidence in the World Cup slalom on February 4th in Chamonix – although this shouldn’t be necessary given the results of the season so far. Although he also dropped out of the slalom in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on January 4, he’s otherwise having a solid season.

Straßer has already collected third and fourth places this winter, thus propelling himself into the role of medal contender. “Nobody can take such good results away from me,” he said with visible and audible frustration, although he naturally remarked: “Such a clairvoyant is a part of it.” However it was the second effective stroke after the race at Kitzbühel two days earlier when he missed third place by a hundred.

(SID)