Ramon Zenhausern claims World Cup slalom win in Soldeu as Lucas Braathen secures crystal globe

Ramon Zenhausern claimed slalom victory in Soldeu as Lucas Braathen secured the crystal globe in the discipline for the season.

Braathen’s final run left Zenhausern no chance of overtaking the Norwegian in the overall stakes, but the Swiss took the win, which gave him third in the year-end standings.

Braathen has established himself as one of the top competitors in the sport this term and battled with Zenhaeusern and compatriot Henrik Kristofferson to end with the coveted crystal globe.

Competitors had to contend with a rough and bumpy track in Andorra that had attracted plenty of attention, with the warmer conditions seeing organisers add salt in an attempt to improve the reliability.

Britain’s Dave Ryding was perhaps looking for motivation for the summer’s training ahead of him, and 18th place in the first run might have kept him interested with a positive follow-up on run 2. However he was unable to keep his balance and ended as a DNF.

At the end of run 1, the 6’8″ Zenhauersen had led with a time of 57.89, with Braathen 0.26s behind him, and Austria’s Fabio Gstrein looking for his first podium 0.55s back.

Kristofferson put down a combined time of 1:55.50 which looked set to give him or Braathen the overall victory.

Austrian Gstrein attacked at the death as he bid for personal glory, but a small lapse saw him tumble and out of contention.

There was also a noteworthy entrant as Italy’s Corrado Barbera made his World Cup debut after winning the junior championship this year, though he finished well down in 18th.

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