In Adelboden on Sundays it’s usually a bit quieter than the day before. The monster atmosphere is the privilege of the giant scheduled for Saturday, the ethylene myth of the World Cup. This year, the Swiss slalomers have chosen to break tradition: they are the ones who blew champagne at the foot of the Chuenisbärgli. Daniel Yule triumphed to deliver an emotion-hungry crowd – four Swiss skiers in the top 5 after the first run, enough to stir up the wildest hopes. They will have been filled with the coolness of the Valaisan, as impervious to the horrors of pressure, he who started last after having set the best time on the initial route. Carried away by the red tide, even Ueli Maurer demonstrated exultantly, springs mounted under the soles of his snow boots. “Usually I have a very strict diet, but there, yes, it will be champagne,” said Yule. Between the two heats, I told myself that I had to go all out to have no regrets. I’m so glad everything worked. I made a mistake just before entering the wall, I couldn’t believe it anymore, and then finally it was green upon arrival. What an incredible feeling. ”
Thirteen years later …
Sunday drunkenness that does good to Swiss skiing. If the revival of Swiss technicians has been established for a long time now, it has never pocharded the local public. You have to go back to Marc Berthod’s victory in 2007 to find traces of the last Swiss podium between the tight stakes in the Bernese Oberland. Historical, therefore, for once the word is not overused. Especially for Daniel Yule, who becomes the first Swiss slalomist to record three World Cup victories. “This is a statistic that pleases,” smiled the champion of the Bernese Oberland. But what matters today is this victory at Adelboden. We will look at the end of my career at what will remain in history. “It is certain, the man wants to go even further, to climb to new heights.
Victorious on Wednesday already at Madonna di Campiglio, Daniel Yule relied on new certainties to reach a plateau this season. “Coming as multiple winner here in Adelboden, it acted as a click in my head, he confided. I knew I could do it. Obviously, the retirement of Marcel (editor’s note: Hirscher) also helps, it freed up a lot of competitors. ”A major performance achieved which is more on a track that he does not particularly appreciate, he who had never shone at Adelboden, with an eighth place as best result so far. “The past few years, conditions have been difficult,” he said. There, the snow was hard, it responded underfoot, I like when it accelerates skiing like that. It allowed me to let go completely. “
In the Swiss camp, a man had more contained happiness – apparently at least. Slalom coach Matteo Joris knows that this is only the beginning of something big. “Don’t be afraid to say it, Switzerland currently has the best slalom team in the world,” said the Italian. We must assume this status now, not be afraid of bulging the chest. After Zagreb, where the overall result was worse, I reminded them of what they were capable of, that they should not hide. I asked them to raise their heads in the next race and they did. Mentally, the whole team crossed a level. “Like Ramon Zenhäusern,” only “fourth Sunday because diminished by a” big gastro “. “Friday evening I was stuck on the toilet from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., said the Olympic vice-champion of the most technical discipline. I didn’t have a lot of energy in my stomach, but it was still enough to concentrate on these two rounds. Under these circumstances, I am really very happy with my performance. “And the giant of Visp (2.02m) to admire the performance of his teammate:” It is phenomenal as Daniel managed to resist the pressure to get this victory. But it’s all the team performance that we should salute. The potential is enormous, we saw it in the first run. Besides, we’re all still young enough, the future is bright. “
Wengen is waiting for them
Next Sunday in Wengen, the Swiss armada will have the opportunity to establish what is called to become a domination. With Daniel Yule, now on his way to the crystal globe of the discipline, in spearhead, but not only. “The great thing about our team is that when there is one that crashes, there is always another to catch it,” said Ramon Zenhäusern again. The other classic of the Bernese Oberland is warned: it can put champagne in the fridge.
Comment: Switzerland is finally a land of slalom
Seen like that, it’s almost heresy. In the history of the Alpine Skiing World Cup since 1967, Swiss slalomers have only won 17 times – by comparison, ten times less than downhill specialists. Three of them are now to be counted by Daniel Yule, splendid winner on Sunday at Adelboden. Here is the skier from Val Ferret very officially elevated to the rank of the best Swiss slalomer of all time, ahead of Pirmin Zurbriggen, Didier Plaschy and Dumeng Giovanoli, all stranded to two successes.
At 26, the Valais skier has reached maturity. And to take a look at its progress, its advent is anything but a surprise – for those who know how to take their troubles patiently. A perfectly regular ascent: first in the top30, then in the top10, finally in the top5 last season, before now establishing itself for good as a favorite on the podium each time it appears in the gate of departure. A constancy that leaves no room for doubt: his reign is gone to establish itself over time.
“I like it when everyone looks at me, when the pressure is at its peak,” said the skier from Val Ferret after his success at Adelboden, carried – instead of being carried away – by a feverish red tide. I knew it was all up to me, I love it. ”A champion’s temper, obviously, who sublimates where others collapse.
Daniel Yule bombs the chest naturally, without pretense or other Coué method. Sure of his strength, certain of his talent, convinced that his place is at the very top. An emblematic leader, capable of making Switzerland a stronghold of the most technical of disciplines. What erase this historical anomaly: Switzerland is now a land of slalom.
Florian Müller
Created: 12.01.2020, 9:20 p.m.
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