The Norwegian swept the 3Tre night slalom against all odds with an impressive second run, coming back from 12th to see off 1st run leader Foss-Solevaag. The Italian rising star confirmed his consistent growth with his first home podium 

Henrik Kristoffersen was back to his winning ways at the 67th 3Tre, the Audi FIS World Cup Slalom held in Madonna di Campiglio on December 22nd 2020. Kristoffersen collected his third pearl in Madonna, moving back to the top step of the podium four years after the last time (2015 and 2016 his previous victories).

Norway rounded out the perfect night with Sebastian Foss-Solevaag scoring his career-best World Cup result in second place, +0.33 behind the winner, whilst Italian Alex Vinatzer seized his very first podium in Campiglio and in his home land, though he finished just one hundredth of second shy of second place. 
 
It was not Daniel Yule’s night to break the omen and become the first every athlete to win three straight 3Tre slaloms. Fifth in the first run, the Swiss could not find his rhythm in the second run, and won’t be happy with his 22nd place. On the other hand, Kristoffersen had to come back after underperforming in the second run, falling down to 12th and 1.25 seconds behind his fellow Countryman Foss Solevaag.

The second run was an all different story, and Kristoffersen unleashed all of his class to turn the tables and complete the most thrilling of comebacks. “It’s amazing what happened tonight – Kristoffersen explained – after I went through a difficult period over the last three weeks. Campiglio is definitely a special place for me”. The Norwegian joined Alberto Tomba among the 3Tre multi-winners, whose leader still remains five-time winner Ingemar Stenmark.

As this crazy 2020 will remain engraved like the year of young rising stars in sports, Italian alpine ski is not an exception. After 19-year-old Jannik Sinner in tennis, another son of the same land (Sudtirol), Alex Vinatzer, 21, put a clincher on his breakthrough year by securing his second ever World Cup podium, and the first in both Madonna and his home land. “I think I could have achieved even more this time – Vinatzer argued – but I am still happy with my performance, that gives me lot of confidence for the rest of the season”. 
 
Alex was the first Italian to step on the 3Tre podium since Stefano Gross in 2016, whilst Giorgio Rocca remained the last home-winner from 2005 onwards.