Madonna di Campiglio (Italy) (AFP)

The Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen, among the favorites at the big globe but author of a disappointing start to the season, managed an impressive comeback in the second round to win the World Cup slalom in Madonna di Campiglio (Italy) on Tuesday.

He beat his compatriot Sebastian Foss-Solevaag by 33 / 100th and the Italian Alex Vinatzer by 34 / 100th.

Used to victories and podiums (he now has 22 and 64 respectively) and known to be tough or even slightly austere, Henrik Kristoffersen (26) seemed moved as rarely when lifting his skis in the air and for his first reaction to the microphone from the International Ski Federation (FIS).

"The last three weeks have been difficult. I think I have never been so moved after a victory. I have already had a hard time in my career but I have always come back. Skiing is my life : I have skiing, my family, and that's it, ”he said.

- Foss-Solevaag cracks -

"Kristo" has indeed started his season backwards.

Him holding the small globes of slalom and giant, twice runner-up to the untouchable Marcel Hirscher (in 2016 and 2018) had only climbed the podium once during the parallel in Lech (Austria), remaining in particular at giant distance (5th, 22nd, 12th and 15th).

On Tuesday he had started his race badly: only 12th after the first run, he was furious in the finish area.

But a second round of fire (3rd time) where he took all the risks changed everything.

With his 6th place obtained on Monday at Alta Badia, he took the red bib as leader of the slalom and finally launched his season.

Behind him his compatriot Sebastian Foss-Solevaag can blame himself.

Imperial in the first round, he started last with 1 sec 25 / 100th ahead of Kristoffersen, a chasm at this level.

But he completely missed his second pass (25th time) and is content with second place.

This 3rd podium of his career must still delight this pure specialist, aged 29, not mounted on the box since March 2016.

Behind the Norwegians, one of the great talents of the world slalom confirmed at home.

Alex Vinatzer, 3rd at 34 / 100th, validated at the age of 21 a second podium after that obtained in January in Zagreb.

- "Getting out of the game" -

The French Alexis Pinturault finished tied for 6th with his compatriot Jean-Baptiste Grange and the German Linus Strasser.

"I was not aggressive enough in the first run, it was much better in the second, I was able to play my game well to stay in contact, I'm happy in these snow conditions that are not easy for me", a- he explained, relieved.

He thus increases his lead in the general classification, with now 65 points more than the Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who does not compete in the slaloms.

© 2020 AFP