Filip Zubcic wins first of the two Men's Giant Slalom to be held in Bansko. The Croatian was second after the first run, but a near faultless display landed him at the top podium. It is his second victory of the season.
With Today's victory in Bansko Filip Zubcic is now second in the Giant Slalom standings only 22 points adrift of Alexis Pinturault.
“It was an incredible race, incredible skiing, I’m so happy and proud of myself and my team, and I am really happy that I did it here in Bansko because I really like this slope and the people here", said Zubcic.
"I attacked from the start. I knew it was going to be really, really, really tough because it was really turny and bumpy”, Zubcic added.
Zubcic has finished in the top three in eight of the last 11 World Cup Giant Slalom races. This run includes wins in Naeba (February 2020), Santa Caterina (December 2020), and now Bansko.
Filip Zubcic is one of only three skiers representing Croatia to win a World Cup event, alongside siblings Janica (30) and Ivica Kostelic (26).
Filip Zubcic and France’s Mathieu Faivre were neck-in-neck after the first run, with the Cortina double-gold medalist, -he won the Men's Giant Slalom and Parallel Giant Slalom at the world championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo-, holding a slim 0.11 advantage after the first run but Faivre ultimately had to settle for second place finishing 0.40 seconds behind.
“After the world champs, I just wanted to keep the pace and to keep the momentum. I feel really good on my skis and I have a lot of pleasure to be on skis and to push hard”, Faivre said.
The Frenchman continues his search for a first win in the World Cup season. Before today this World Cup season, Faivre's best result in a Giant Slalom event was an eighth place on the first race in Santa Caterina on 5 December.
Faivre's only individual win in an event at the world level was his Giant Slalom victory in Val d'Isère on 4 December 2016.
Third place went to surprise finisher Stefan Brennsteiner (AUT) who earned his first career World Cup podium, climbing up two positions in the second run. After both Pinturault and Kristoffersen crossed the finish line with slower times, the Austrian celebration started as Brennsteiner knew he was guaranteed a podium finish.
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