Manuel Feller (AUT) threw down an Olympic-worthy performance on home snow, winning the annual slalom race in Kitzbuhel, Austria with a time of 1:40.60. It was Feller's seventh World Cup victory, but his first of a 2025-26 season that he's described as the "toughest" of his career one of the "toughest parts of my life."

"I can't say how much this means to me," the tearful 33-year-old said post-race. "I was close to quitting a few times, just no energy anymore for a few races. But all my life quitting was was no option, and so I kept on going.

"I just want to thank everybody who believed in me and I want to thank myself for continue believing in me."

Feller has been in search of his peak form ever since claiming the slalom Crystal Globe in 2024. It was his crowning achievement on the piste, but the following Cup campaign proved to be much more turbulent. 

He struggled to finish races and barely missed the slalom podium at the 2025 Alpine Ski World Championships, coming in fourth in Saalbach, Austria — a mere 50-minute drive from his hometown of Fieberbrunn. Feller said that earning a medal in Saalbach was a childhood dream and that ultimately not being able to do so was "the biggest defeat of my career."

His start to the 2025-26 season was rocky, as he failed to qualify for a second run and DNF'd on multiple occasions. However, over the past few races it seemed that he'd built some confidence, placing fifth in Adelboden earlier this month (his first top five) and 11th in Wengen. 

Feller's win couldn't have come at a better time or place, as he found redemption in front of a home crowd at the most prestigious World Cup event on tour just weeks before the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Manuel Feller of Austria carves through gates in a World Cup slalom event in Levi, Finland.

Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images

Reigning slalom world champion Loic Meillard (SUI) finished second in Kitzbuhel (+0.35). It was his second runner-up and fourth podium of the season. 

The multi-discipline skier may compete in four events for Switzerland in Milan Cortina: slalom, giant slalom, super-G and team combined. He could reunite with Franjo Von Allmen (SUI), who he claimed a gold medal with in the team combined at the 2025 World Championships. 

Linus Strasser (GER), winner of the Kitzbuhel slalom in 2024, snagged third (+0.53), securing his first podium and best result of the 2025-26 Cup campaign.

American slalom specialist Benjamin Ritchie collected his first Cup points since a slalom race in Sun Valley last March, finishing 15th.

The 25-year-old, who claimed 4th alongside Ryan Cochran-Siegle in the team combined at the 2025 World Championships, recently missed out on a Winter Olympic bid. Before the race, Ritchie qualified for a second run just twice in his previous seven races and DNF’d both times. 

He won’t be in Milan Cortina, but has some much-needed momentum with two slalom contests remaining this Cup campaign.

The other Americans to start, Cooper Puckett and Jett Seymour, posted DNFs in Run 1. 

With one World Cup slalom remaining before the 2026 Winter Olympics, the field is wide open. There have been six different winners across eight races, and first and fifth place in the Cup standings are separated only by 43 points. 

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA), Clement Noel (FRA), Atle Lie McGrath, Timon Haugan (NOR), Paco Rassat (FRA), Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) and Eduard Hallberg (FIN) just are a handful of names who didn't reach the podium in Kitzbuhel and have a legitimate chance of doing so in Milan Cortina.

Given U.S. Ski & Snowboard's selections for Team USA  — devoid of slalom racers  — the U.S. most likely will skip the event at the Winter Olympics.

The top technical skiers will make a final pitstop before the Games in Schladming, Austria on Tuesday and Wednesday for a men's giant slalom and slalom. The action will stream live on Peacock and NBCSN with the first runs of each starting at 11:45 a.m. ET.