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– The last three weeks have been tough. “I think I have never been so excited for a win before,” said Henrik Kristoffersen after this year’s first World Cup win was a given.
Kristoffersen did not impress in the first instance of the slalom race in Italy. He was in 12th place, more than a second behind his compatriot Sebastian Foss-Solevåg. But in the second half, Kristoffersen made an enormous impression.
In goal he was clearly leading, 54 hundredths ahead of Grange. It lasted all the way, and when Foss-Solevåg drove to the finish 33 per cent behind, Kristoffersen was able to release the jubilation.
Henrik Kristoffersen drives brilliantly in the second half and takes the lead.
– Skiing is my life
The Rælingen rider did not have a good start to the season by his standards. So far she has not been on the podium this season, and was especially self-critical after Sunday’s first Giant Slalom event, where she thought she was driving like “a woman”.
– I’ve had periods where I’ve had problems before, but it used to be in the fall. So I have managed to fine-tune myself for the start of the season. But since Sølden this year has been horrible and skiing is my life. I have family and skis, and that is my life, he added to the organizer.
Sebastian Foss Solevåg led after the first half but could not stay away from Kristoffersen’s excellent driving and finished second.
Kjetil André Aamodt believes that Kristoffersen underestimated the first half and did not give enough gas.
– In the second lap, he analyzed it perfectly and showed what a good slalom skier he has been for the last seven years. He’s a bit better than the others and he proved it now, Aamodt said.
– How important is this victory?
– It was very important. He’s been very down now that he hasn’t made it. He even said now that the only thing he has in life is alpine, so he puts a lot into it. It was probably good for his confidence and motivation that he made it to the top.
Foss-Solevåg top in the first
In the first round, where conditions on the field were good for the first runners, Foss-Solevåg, with start number two, used it almost perfectly. After a good start where he handled smoothly with the rest of the field, he slapped the bottom.
In the end, he was 0.78 ahead of Daniel Yule, who was the first off the field. After this, no one was closer than Ramon Zenhäusern, who finished four tenths behind the Norwegian.
BEST IN FIRST TIME: Sebastian Foss-Solevåg drove a unique first lap. In the end, he did not stay away from the compatriot, but ranked first second in his career.
Photo: TIZIANA FABI / AFP
– Oh my! Sebastian Foss-Solevåg has surpassed the world elite here, said NRK expert and former Alpine King Aamodt after the trip to Foss-Solevåg in the first place.
He made his World Cup debut on November 11, 2012. Since then he has two 3rd places. This, then, was his best location in his eight-year career.
– Sebastian had a great first half. He showed a very high level and led for the first time. It’s been four years since he was last on the podium, so he deserved it, Aamodt said after the race.
