Strasser claims thrilling slalom success as Jakobsen spurns opportunity

Linus Strasser emerged victorious from the final World Cup race before the Olympic Winter Games in a thrilling race in Schladming, Austria. Strasser came home in 1:46.00, three-hundredths of a second ahead of Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath, to earn his first World Cup win of the season.

Ad/> The German was fifth fastest after the first run, which saw a blistering run from Kristoffer Jakobsen. /> Schladming'Huge result!' — Strasser wins slalom in Schladming44 MINUTES AGO The Swede’s time of 51.32 left him more than half a second clear of 2010 Olympic champion Giuliano Razzoli and looked set to bring him a maiden career World Cup victory.

But those chances were ended by an early error on the second run which saw him miss a gate while Razzoli also failed to finish second time around to leave the door ajar. Manuel Feller, 28th after the first run, led the way for a considerable time before McGrath and Strasser eventually surpassed the Austrian, who took bronze.

Feller is also third in the overall slalom standings, with Strasser now joint-fourth following his victory. Dave Ryding, who became Great Britain’s first alpine skiing World Cup winner in Kitzbuhel on Saturday, was 20th in Schladming, two places behind compatriot Billy Major.