Dave Ryding wins slalom skiing Alpine World Cup to become first British champion in 55 years
Ryding's triumph comes five years after the Briton earned his first career World Cup podium at the same iconic venue in the Austrian Alps; at the age of 35, Ryding also became the oldest winner of a men's World Cup slalom
Last Updated: 22/01/22 4:50pm
Dave Ryding won the Kitzbuehel men's slalom on Saturday in a remarkable first for a British skier in the 55-year-history of the Alpine World Cup and with the Beijing Olympics only weeks away.
Norway's Lucas Braathen and Henrik Kristoffersen were second and third respectively in the biggest slalom on the men's circuit
Ryding, 35, also became the oldest winner of a men's World Cup slalom and kissed the snow as he crossed the finish line in the Austrian resort.
"I guess there's life in the old dog yet," he told Eurosport.
"I'm 35 now but I never stopped believing, I never stopped trying ... I always believed I could do it, I always thought I can do this but my races were getting less and less and doubt is always there.
"My team never stopped believing, they kept pushing me. More than I would like sometimes. My fiancee always supports me and my family is always there and I'm not the easiest to deal with all of the time. I hope they are popping a prosecco at home."
Ryding had started 15th and was sixth after the first run down the Ganslern piste but he then put in a tremendous second leg while those starting ahead of him made errors or failed to finish.
Italy's 2010 Olympic champion Giuliano Razzoli straddled a gate near the finish, Norway's Sebastian Foss-Solevaag also straddled, France's Clement Noel was all over the place and Italian Alex Vinatzer skied out.
"I had so much emotion when I finished and now I don't know what to say," said Ryding, whose coach dropped to the snow after the race shouting 'He did it' over and again.
"I'm normally not lost for words but now I am," he added before 'God Save the Queen' sounded for the first time on an Alpine podium to cheers from the crowd.
"It means the world just to hear some Brits and people cheering," he said.
"I don't have a home race but there's always some Brits in the Alps because we love skiing. We love to party as well."
Ryding's triumph came five years after the Briton earned his first career World Cup podium at the same iconic venue in the Austrian Alps, finishing runner-up to Austrian great Marcel Hirscher.
Ryding had two more podium results, most recently in Adelboden a year ago, before finally clinching his maiden win.
The win crowns a remarkable career for Ryding, who learned to ski on dry slopes and only skied on snow for the first time at the age of 12.
He made his World Cup debut in Alta Badia in 2009 and was competing in his 97th race Saturday.
