The smile changed to a grin. Second in the slalom in Levi, Finland, last weekend for the start of the ski season, Clément Noël will be on the slopes of Gurgl (Austria) this Saturday, November 22 for the second meeting of the year. A race he cherishes – he won it last year – and he is one of the main favourites.
Unfortunately the risk of the French player appearing is reduced. In the interview he gave this Thursday to RMC Sport media, the defending Olympic champion explained that he felt pain in his back. An illness that has haunted him for years but seemed to get worse last week.
“That didn’t happen,” Noël confirmed. This is even worse than last week. When I say you have to take care of your body and try to recover, that’s part of it process. That’s what we’re trying to do, I think I should hold on until Gurgl while I’m a bit hampered by that and then there’s still some time off which will allow me to take it into account and arrive in better shape. On average, I haven’t skied much and I haven’t skied well. »
“Maximum to be good”
He chose not to ski before this Thursday to “recover”, “put himself in the best condition” and do “the best possible” for Saturday’s slalom.
“This is a pain I’m used to, but it’s still a little more debilitating than what I’m used to,” he continued. It was muscular, not much, but nevertheless it bothered me a little. In Levi’s racing, it’s fine, with the adrenaline and stress of racing. But in practice, it bothered me a little, so I couldn’t practice properly. We will do our best so that I can ski at least like in Levi this weekend, it’s not bad. »
The 2022 Olympic slalom champion, the Frenchman will try to defend his title in a few weeks during the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina which will take place from 6 to 22 February 2026.
