Albert Popov gave the Bulgarian ski team their first World Cup win in 45 years by triumphing in the slalom on Wednesday as the four favorites skied off the night race in Italy’s Madonna Di Campiglio.
The win came on the anniversary of Peter Popangelov’s only win for Bulgaria, in Lenggries, Germany on January 8, 1980.
“A long time ago,” said Popov. “It means a lot and I want to see more children skiing in Bulgaria, and I think this will do a great thing for them and they will start to believe that it is possible, and I think it is very important for our country.”
Eighth fastest after the first run, Popov produced a brilliant second run at the Canalone Miramonti circuit, the 27-year-old throwing his head back and letting out a scream of joy as he crossed the finish line in a two-run time of one minute 45.22 seconds.
He then faced an anxious wait to see if it would be good enough for what would have been second place on the podium.
Reigning World Cup slalom winner Manuel Feller looked set to challenge him but lost his balance and hit the gate, failing to finish for the third time in five slalom starts this season.
WATCH | Popov beat Loic Meillard by 0.44 seconds:
Bulgarian Albert Popov became the first Bulgarian to win a FIS World Cup slalom race in 45 years with his victory in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. Popov won the event in 1:45.22 and achieved his first FIS World Cup victory in his career.
Atle Lie McGrath dominated the first run, leading by more than half a second and hoping for her first win in almost three years.
The Norwegian had a 1.21 advantage over Popov after the first split, but threw away his colossal lead as he stood at the gate.
– It’s a dream come true and it’s been a long time coming – said Popov. “I’ve been waiting a lot and I’m happy that it’s in Madonna Di Campiglio. I love the race, I love the track, I love the people.”
Popov finished 44-100-seconds ahead of Swiss Loic Meillard (1:45.66) and 46-100-seconds ahead of Croatian Samuel Kolega (1:45.68), who recorded his first World Cup podium.
‘A lot of work to get here’
I’m really speechless right now, said Colleague. “It was a lot of work to get here. There are a lot of people to thank for this. It’s not just me, it’s the whole team, a lot of people who have been behind me the whole time.
“For me today is not just a podium. I’ve never won World Cup points on this hill before, and today was a real improvement for me.”
WATCH | Full replay of Race 2 in Italy on Wednesday:
Watch the men’s slalom final from the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup stop in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy.
Olympic champion Clement Noel, who won the first two slalom races of the season, and Norwegian skier Timon Haugan, who dominated the last slalom in Alta Badia, both crashed out in the first run.
Meillard moved to the top of the discipline standings, 10 points ahead of world champion Henrik Kristoffersen and 85 points ahead of Noel.
“It’s definitely not the easiest race, it’s always a challenge here at Madonna,” Meillard said. “There were mistakes, but in the end another podium.
“It’s working well at the moment. When you have a few good results, you have confidence and you can push a little more.”
Three-time defending overall champion Marco Odermatt, who does not compete in slaloms, remained at the top of the overall standings, but his lead was cut to 116 points over Kristoffersen.
Another slalom in Adelboden, Switzerland in just three days, with the giant slalom the following day and three more slalom races on the packed January calendar.
Calgary’s Erik Read and Montreal’s Simon Fournier were the only two Canadians in the event and neither cracked the top 30 to qualify for the second run. Read was 35th with 54.56 seconds, and Fournier was 46th (55.11).
