Fritz Dopfer Leads

Everyone knows that the Slalom on the Ganslernhang is one of the most difficult in the World Cup. Top favourites such as Slalom World Cup leaders Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR), Marcel Hirscher (AUT) and Felix Neureuther (GER) afford it the greatest respect. After the first run, however, it seems the athletes need to treat it with a mix of sensitivity and audaciousness. The first mogul is particularly tricky to handle. "You need to hold back at certain sections, temper your pace. That was the key to success in the first run. I think I can be satisfied for the time being", explained Germany's Fritz Dopfer, leader after the first run. The Swede, Schwede Mattias Hargin, lies in second place, 18 hundredths of a second behind. Last's year's winner particularly likes this course, which was set by his coach. Austrian Marco Schwarz provided a surprise, finishing 33 hundredths of a second behind the leader, just ahead of Marcel Hirscher and Alexander Khoroshilov (RUS). "I'm a little surprised myself We trained well, on steep hills too, which also went well. There are challenging moguls in the course - I watched almost every racer", said the 20-year old athlete from Villach. The race continues with the second run at 13:30 hrs.