Noel Conquers Challenging Conditions To Win Madonna di Campiglio Night Slalom
France's Clément Noël delivered a masterful performance under the floodlights Wednesday night, claiming victory in the 71st edition of the iconic 3Tre Madonna di Campiglio slalom on the legendary Canalone Miramonti slope.
The Canalone Miramonti held up well under floodlights: race reports described the snow as holding beautifully and the timing board showed razor‑thin margins after the first run, creating a high‑pressure second run for the leaders. Organizers ran the event as scheduled despite the late start, and the piste’s firm, well‑prepared surface rewarded precise, aggressive skiing
The conditions in the Italian Dolomites were as unforgiving as they were spectacular. Warm daytime temperatures followed by a sharp evening freeze transformed the slope into what racers described as "shiny ice"—a compact, glass-like surface that demanded perfect edge control.
While the conditions favored technical purists, they proved treacherous for many; the second run alone saw nine skiers fail to finish (DNF) as the course claimed several of the sport's biggest names.
Noël’s win gives the Olympic champion his first World Cup victory of the season, a result that tightens the slalom picture as the circuit moves into the mid‑January stretch. The result also reshuffles slalom points: Noël picked up 100 World Cup points for the win, while Hallberg and Rassat earned 80 and 60 respectively, narrowing gaps in the discipline standings
The defending Olympic gold medalist posted a combined time of 1:43.05 to secure his first World Cup victory of the season navigating treacherous conditions that eliminated nearly half the field. Limited visibility and frigid temperatures created a harder, slicker racing surface that proved unforgiving to even the sport's elite.
In a breakthrough performance, Finland's Eduard Hallberg claimed second place, just 0.12 seconds behind Noël, in only his 20th World Cup start. The result marked the best finish of the young skier's career and highlighted the unpredictability that has defined this season's slalom competition.
It was just too much for first run leader, Eduard Hallberg (FIN/Fischer). Although the 22-year-old Finn, last season’s Longines Rising Star winner, gave it his best with only an error six gates from home preventing him from taking a first ever World Cup win. Hallberg ended 0.12 seconds back, in only his 16th World Cup slalom start. The result marked the best finish of the young skier's career and highlighted the unpredictability that has defined this season's slalom competition. Fellow young flier Paco Rassat (FRA/Head) completed a great night for France by grabbing third.
“Of course, a bit bitter to lose the win (by) 0.12 but still really happy with the day,” Hallberg said. “After the first run, all by myself up there, it was a bit of an unusual experience but I still think it was pretty exciting and fun. I managed to also ski good and find my own skiing. A couple of mistakes but still decent skiing. To reach the podium and my career best result, it’s amazing.
“The time in-between, say half-an-hour, 20 minutes before I start, that’s maybe the worst. But when I am in the tunnel, when I get my skis on my feet, then I can just focus on my thing and I mean, it felt like a normal race. I will try to keep the ball rolling, keep the momentum I found now. It’s really nice when I can show already the first race in January that the speed is good.”
Paco Rassat started the second run in 16th place. The fastest time on the second run secured third place overall for the French athlete. With 240 points, he has successfully defended his third place in the Slalom ranking. "I'm very pleased with this podium. It is a great start to a January packed with a total of five classic Slalom races. I am going to keep trying to ski as fast as possible and see that I can give my best in each race," said Paco Rassat at the finish.
On a tightly packed leaderboard, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA/Atomic) was left rueing the odd bit of caution, as he finished just three-hundredths-of-a-second off the podium, while just one-hundredth separated fifth-placed Erik Hystad Soldberg (NOR/Fischer) and Armand Marchant (BEL/ Head) and Timon Haugan (NOR/Van Deer) who were tied for sixth - all less than half-a-second off Noël.
The brutal conditions took their toll throughout the evening, with nine of the 30 second-run qualifiers failing to finish. Among the casualties was defending champion Albert Popov of Bulgaria, who was unable to complete his second run.
With the victory, Noël vaulted to second in the slalom World Cup standings, just three points behind leader Timon Haugan of Norway. The tight race sets up a compelling battle as the season progresses toward the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina.
The race marked a significant moment in the World Cup calendar, as Madonna di Campiglio's traditional December date shifted to January for the first time. The move positions the Italian night race as the opening event in what organizers are calling the "Month of Slalom Classics," preceding competitions in Adelboden, Wengen, Kitzbühel, and Schladming.
For Team USA, the night brought mixed results. Benjamin Ritchie showed promise with a strong first run that earned him a spot in the final 30, but he skied out in the second run and remains without World Cup points through five races this season. Luke Winters finished 48th, while Jett Seymour failed to complete his opening run.
The World Cup slalom season continues with two more races before the Olympic qualification period closes on January 18, making upcoming results crucial for athletes hoping to secure spots on their national teams for Milan Cortina.
Seventy-three athletes from 23 nations competed on the demanding Canalone Miramonti course, designed in 1940 and featuring sharp gradient changes that have challenged racers for generations. The slope hosted Italy's first World Cup race in 1967 and has remained one of the sport's most prestigious venues.
