ÖSV aces want to join Madonna’s slalom – winter sports –

Nine years after the last World Cup slalom in Alta Badia, it almost ran again with an ÖSV victory on Monday. While Marcel Hirscher hit nine years ago, two years after Reinfried Herbst, Manuel Feller was just 0.08 seconds away from the win in the first men’s alpine ski race of the season. The third place, Marco Schwarz, was only 0.12 seconds behind the Swiss winner Ramon Zenhäusern. Already on Tuesday continues in Madonna di Campiglio.

This ÖSV duo doesn’t just want to add one to the classic under the spotlight (5.45 / 8.45 pm). Michael Matt is also feeling mature after third at halftime in Big Laugh to even out his teammates. Final Rank 15 doesn’t take the Tyrolean off the track, it’s geared toward skiing. “It can be based on that. I was third on Madonna once.” In the second pass of Alta Badia, the track and the errors prevented him from being more than 15th place.

Feller and Schwarz, of course, enter the night’s challenge with great motivation. Kärntner Schwarz only lost the victory due to a mistake in the first round. “Skiing was very good. I knew I could do it. I feel more comfortable in slalom, which is why I’m looking forward to Madonna. As a team, we are doing very well. Everyone has what it takes to be on the podium.” fights. The spirit fits. “

The 25-year-old was very happy about second place for Feller. “How he fought, how he works.” And he also understood the tears of joy of the Tyrolean. “It’s exciting to get back on the podium after a difficult time. Manu will have felt the same way today. He had a long fight with his back. It’s really great that it works like this.” But his own ski also fits: “I’m hungry for more and I’ll give it my all.”

Feller had not written before this season. After missing the start of the World Cup winter in Sölden, he recorded failures in the giant slalom races in Santa Caterina and Alta Badia and a failure to qualify for the second race. The 27-year-old was more satisfied with his performance: “After a dirty last season with a lot of pain and then three races without points, even if it is a different discipline.”

Conditions in Val Badia were favorable to him. “It got a little warmer in the second race, then I can push my swing more on my heel. It was almost a perfect race.” Feller hopes a spot in the top ten for Madonna. “I just want to go with the flow and try it again. You can’t expect me to finish on the podium again.

The now five-time World Cup podium rider also settled for a bit with his critics. “I came back after a herniated disc, not even a 13th place was good enough. So you don’t score any points a couple of times and everyone hits you.” Of course, he has not forgotten about his fans: “There were also a lot of people who wrote: ‘Never give up’. I would like to thank my fans, including all the physios and coaches.”

The second guard of the Alta Badia ÖSV also wants to appear in Madonna. “Technically I wasn’t skiing well enough,” said Adrian Pertl after 14th place in Big Laugh. “I have to improve there. Last year I barely missed qualifying at Madonna. It’s a bit steeper there, but also to attack.” Christian Hirschbühl (22nd): “The positive is that I drove two rounds. I drove corners where there are none. Madonna needs an upgrade.”