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LinkedInADELBODEN, Switzerland — Marcel Hirscher edged ahead of Henrik Kristoffersen in a World Cup giant slalom that is shaping up to be another duel between the standout technical skiers on Saturday.
Six-time defending overall champion Hirscher was 0.11 seconds faster than his Norwegian rival, who was runner-up in both the Austrian’s giant slalom wins this season.
Third-placed Leif Kristian Nestvold-Haugen of Norway had 0.65 to make up on Hirscher in the second run.
Defending a first-run lead can be tough on the Chuenisbaergli hill which darkens quickly when early afternoon sunshine dips behind the mountains.
Hirscher wore bib 2 and used the best racing surface on a clear, calm day.
Kristoffersen started No. 5 and led at the time splits until being slower than Hirscher after cresting the top of the steep final slope.
Fans packed the stands for Switzerland’s classic giant slalom after overnight repairs rebuilding a section of the main road to Adelboden damaged by the Eleanor storm that swept across Europe in midweek.
Without a home win at Adelboden since 2008, the best Swiss hope is Justin Murisier who was sixth, 1.18 back, after losing time on the steep gates into the finish area.
Olympic champion Ted Ligety was eighth fastest, trailing Hirscher by 1.24. The American GS specialist won here in 2013, joining an Adelboden winners list peppered with Alpine ski greats since the first World Cup race here 51 years ago.
Hirscher won this race in 2012 and 2015, and another title Saturday would be the 51st World Cup victory of his career and lift him into third on the all-time men’s list.
The 28-year-old Austrian is currently tied with Alberto Tomba and trails only Hermann Maier (54) and Ingemar Stenmark (86). Stenmark won the Adelboden GS five times, Maier had three wins and Tomba one.
