ÖSV ace admits:

“That was of course a huge relief”

Johannes Strolz was hugely relieved after fourth place in the Aspen slalom.(Bild: AP)

Olympic combined champion Johannes Strolz had to wait two long years to be able to celebrate a top 10 place in the World Cup again. The 31-year-old from Vorarlberg was all the more delighted and relieved that he managed fourth place in the Aspen slalom. Now he is hoping for a strong season finale.

"That was a very important result for me," Johannes Strolz admitted to the "Krone" after finishing fourth in the slalom in Aspen (US) on Sunday, the second-best World Cup result of his career. "I noticed that a lot of progress has been made this season, especially in terms of stability, but the top result was still missing. The fact that it has now worked out is of course a very, very big relief."

Result as motivation
The eleven hundredths that the 31-year-old missed out on Henrik Kristoffersen (Nor) and third place only annoyed him briefly. "As a racer, you always want to be further ahead, but if I could have signed on Saturday that I would be fourth on Sunday - I would have done it immediately without thinking," explained the man from Warth before boarding his flight home. "The result gives me more motivation and joy, as I've seen that I still have a lot of potential for improvement."

Johannes Strolz will also be back in the downhill at the World Cup final in Saalbach - at least as a forerunner.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Also competing in speed at the final
After taking a breather at home, the head skier wants to make the most of this at the slaloms in Kranjska Gora (Slo) and at the World Cup final in Saalbach: "I want to give it my all again there." Speaking of Saalbach: Strolz will probably also be at the start there in the downhill and super-G - as a forerunner.