After a difficult start to the season, Loïc Meillard is building on his performances from the spring. With three podium finishes in the last four races, the filigree technician has made an impressive comeback.
22.12.2025, 16:00
22.12.2025, 19:49
SDA
He turns off after crossing the finish line, clenches his fist and blows out his breath. Loïc Meillard is back - where he belongs. Third place on Monday in the slalom in Alta Badia was another exclamation mark from the world champion in a season in which he should have been ready to attack Marco Odermatt in the overall World Cup after the formidable World Championships in Saalbach and a strong finish to the season.
However, Meillard's start to the Olympic season did not go according to plan. 14th place in the opening race in Sölden was followed by the same result in the slalom in Levi. The 29-year-old was eliminated in Gurgl. And things did not go well for the Neuchâtel native, who lives in Valais, overseas either. Ninth place in the giant slalom in Beaver Creek was his best result after seven races. Not the standard for someone who stood on the World Cup podium eight times last winter and won three of the last four technical races.
It was only with his return to European snow that the button came loose for the French-Swiss racer. The redemptive victory in the giant slalom in Val d'Isère was followed by second place the next day. Now, just over a week later, Meillard confirmed his rising form curve. As in the previous year, he climbed onto the podium in the slalom in Alta Badia. "We worked a lot and developed well. The many kilometers have paid off," the western Swiss skier told SRF, visibly relaxed.
Marco Odermatt is already more than 460 points behind in the overall World Cup. But with the Olympic Games in Bormio in February, the highlight of the season is still to come. By winning three medals in Saalbach, two of them gold, Meillard proved that he is a man for big events and can step out of the shadow of the man from Nidwalden. Especially as even obstacles such as a poor start to the season do not throw him off track.
