While he never really had the small slalom globe as his main objective, Clément Noël recognizes in an interview with Eurosport that it will start to become a goal, as he begins his season this Sunday in Levi.
On Sunday, in Levi in Lapland, Clément Noël will begin his season, a necessarily special season since the Olympic Games will take place next February. The 28-year-old slalom rider dreams of retaining his title at Milan-Cortina, but crystal could well mix with gold at the end of the season.
While he has finished second in the slalom World Cup rankings four times (in 2019, 2020 and 2021), the Vosges native is slowly starting to get used to the idea that competing in the small globe must be a goal this season. “ The most beautiful thing is the Olympic title, then, I think, the globe… Perhaps above the world title. Although at one time I wasn’t sure“, confides Clément Noël in an interview with Eurosport.
Christmas tries to give importance to the globe
During the world championships, the slalom rider has never done better than fourth (in 2023), and last winter in Saalbach, he rode in the second round even though he had won the first. He will try his luck again at the 2027 Worlds in Crans-Montana, but in the meantime, the Vosges native will force himself to play for the World Cup rankings.
“We talked a lot with the coaches about the importance I attach to the globe. I think this importance is perhaps a bit too low, compared to what it should be. I have to remember that the little crystal globe is one of the most beautiful things you can win, as a specialist in a discipline,” he continues.
Christmas does not envy Kristoffersen
But deep down, he will always prefer to take risks to play for victory than to take chances to accumulate points. “I don’t trade four wins for two wins and a globe,” he admits, referring to last season where he had four wins and retired twice, while Henrik Kristoffersen (31), the winner of the small globe, has always finished in the Top 10, except in Kitzbühel where he retired, but only won twice.
“I prefer to give 100%, try to experience beautiful emotions at the moment, rather than being a little more calculating,” he admits. Clément Noël seems torn between the thirst for victories and playing this little globe which is missing from his list of achievements. Levi’s slalom, in which he is the defending champion, will be a great way to start the season by taking 100 points for victory. It will be time to think about accounting next.
