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Manuel Feller
Photo:
Gabriele Facciotti / dpa
Ski racer Manuel Feller was not allowed to lose after his critical remarks about the route in Flachau.
Before the World Cup slalom, the Austrian had ridiculed the supposedly easy slope as a "fairy tale meadow".
So he was under a little pressure, and withstood it: Feller secured his first World Cup victory in his 124th race.
With a strong final run, the 28-year-old relegated Clément Noël from France and team mate Marco Schwarz, who had been in the lead up to the first run, to their places.
However, the flat slope was not that easy.
The organizers had prepared it with water to make the slope icier and faster.
As planned, the slaloms should have taken place in Wengen this weekend, but the race had to be canceled due to corona cases in the surrounding area and was initially moved to Kitzbühel.
But the competition could not take place there either: There had been 17 possible cases of infection with the British coronavirus mutation in nearby Jochberg.
Winner Feller now feared boredom.
In comparison, Flachau is just a »fairy tale meadow«.
The women usually start on the "Hermann Maier slope", so the Austrian head coach Christian Mitter knows his way around and commented on Feller's criticism.
“It's always such talk.
If you want to become the slalom World Cup winner, you have to be able to drive well everywhere. "
Feller then defused his criticism and explained his statement on Instagram.
“The easier the slope, the more difficult it is to land on the podium or to win.
The field is getting closer together.
A willingness to take risks is certainly required - well, I don't have to win there. "
Straßer scrapes past the pedestal
The German Linus Straßer was able to underline his top form, but narrowly missed his third podium finish in a row.
The 28-year-old from Munich, who was seventh after the first run, finished fifth after his victory in Zagreb and second place in Adelboden in heavy snowfall.
Another slalom is scheduled for Sunday (10.30 a.m. and 1.45 p.m.; TV: ARD and Eurosport) in Flachau.
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