KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia (AP) — Marcel Hirscher of Austria has clinched the World Cup slalom title Sunday after his sole rival, Felix Neureuther of Germany, skied out in the opening run of the second-to-last event of the season.
Hirscher led Neureuther by 184 points going into the race. With Neureuther straddling a gate and failing to score points, Hirscher’s lead has become insurmountable with a win worth 100 points.
Alexis Pinturault held a commanding lead after the rain-drenched first run. The Frenchman opened the race on a rapidly deteriorating course in 50.79 seconds to lead second-place Andre Myhrer of Sweden by 1.45 seconds. Ivica Kostelic of Croatia was another 0.06 back in third.
Pinturault, who won a slalom in Val d’Isere in December, is seeking his seventh podium of the season.
