SCHLADMING, Austria (AP) — Marcel Hirscher set up another duel with his Norwegian slalom rival Henrik Kristoffersen as they went 1-2 in the first run of a World Cup night race on Tuesday.
Watched by more than 40,000 spectators, the Austrian six-time overall champion trailed Kristoffersen at the final split time but finished 0.20 seconds ahead.
Hirscher and Kristoffersen have won six of seven slaloms this season.
Italians Stefano Gross and Manfred Moelgg were 0.76 and 0.86 behind respectively, while Hirscher’s teammate, Michael Matt, was fifth and had 1.09 to make up in the final run.
Hirscher is after his 54th World Cup win, which would match Austrian great Hermann Maier’s career total. Only Swedish standout Ingemar Stenmark (86) has won more races.
