For a long time, he imagined himself falling into the lead after the Super G in the combined event of the World Championship in Cortina d'Ampezzo on Monday noon.
Alexis Pinturault kept control of the standings for nearly an hour.
All the favorites had passed but an unexpected skier was missing: the Canadian James "Jack" Crawford.
After starting at the end of the star-list with bib 32, the Canadian clocked the best time in 1'19''95, thus ahead of Pinturault by 8 hundredths.
“A few years ago, I was a good slalom skier but I took a turn on the descent.
I hope for the second round to regain my feelings of slalom, ”admits the Canadian who should not therefore be the greatest threat for the French, title holder, in the afternoon.
Alexis Pinturault 🇫🇷 takes the lead on the Super-G !!
🔥Superb round of French which is perfectly placed before the slalom this afternoon!
#ChaletClub # Cortina2021
❄️ Follow the Cortina d'Ampezzo World Championships on Eurosport and https://t.co/XcZuM6O9AA pic.twitter.com/H6kP1QcIjX
- Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) February 15, 2021
Pinturault will therefore start in second position in the second round, the slalom, this Monday from 3.30 p.m.
In addition to Crawford, who will have to take time back, the Frenchman should be wary of mainly Austrian competition since Vincent Kriechmayr (1'20''25), Matthias Mayer (1'20''27) and Marco Schwartz (1'20 35) stand behind him in a pocket square.
The victory in the afternoon could be played between these five: “It was a good run.
The snow was easy and you had to dare.
I skied well and can be satisfied with this round.
Everything remains to be done, ”slips the Frenchman.
Towards a double?
Pinturault will indeed have to indulge fully because these thousandths of a second do not allow him to fall asleep on his spatulas.
Especially since the Covid crisis does not make things easier: the World Championship event is the only one on the program for the season amputated because of the health crisis.
The 44 skiers at the start this Monday have no benchmarks and that could play tricks for some.
And favor others like Crawford, the morning surprise.
A French world champion in the discipline, we should not in any case deprive ourselves of it because it is rare.
Before Pinturault, who won in Are in Sweden last year, only five French men had achieved this feat: Emile Allais (1937 and 1938), Henri Oreiller (1949), Guy Perillat (1960), Jean-Claude Killy (1966 and 1968) and Michel Vion (1982).
If he confirms this Monday in the slalom, Pinturault will then become the third French to achieve the double.