Lucas Braathen surprised everyone on a sunny and warm beautiful day in Wengen. The 21-year-old Norwegian, who was 29th in the first run, made up 28 positions overcoming a 2.04 seconds deficit and thus clinched victory after a dream second run taking advantage of the degrading conditions of the Männlichen racecourse and a challenging setting by Norwegian Trainer Johnny Davidson.
It's his first win and podium in the discipline and his second win and podium in any discipline. The 21-year-old Viking won the Giant Slalom in Sölden in 2020.
"I have no idea how that's possible. The top 30 was within just two seconds, so maybe it's possible, but I really don't know. I already had the feeling that I was fast and stable. But the top ten were unrealistic. After the first run I even believed that I didn't even qualify for the second one. That's crazy", said Braathen.
Daniel Yule finished in second place, +0.22 seconds behind the Norwegian. The last time he was on the podium was in 202o in Schladming. This season his best Slalom result was 4th place in Val d'Isere.
Yule got Switzerland's first slalom podium in Wengen since 1999.
The Olympic Champion in Whistler 2010 Giuliano Razzoli finished in third place +0.29 seconds back. The last time the Italian was on the podium was also in Wengen in 2016. At the age of 37 years and 29 days, he is the oldest skier on the podium in slalom.
