Paco Rassat Claims First World Cup Victory in Gurgl Slalom Thriller

France’s Paco Rassat delivered the performance of his career at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup 2025/26 stop in Gurgl, Austria, clinching his first-ever World Cup win in a dramatic men’s slalom on Saturday. The 27-year-old, starting with bib number 21, surged 13 spots up the standings with a brilliant second run that stunned the field.

A Stunning Climb to the Top

Rassat’s first run had positioned him in the middle of the pack — but his second run changed everything. Skiing with precision and aggression, he clocked a combined time of 1:44.55, putting him in the leader’s seat with eight racers still to come.

As conditions deteriorated and pressure rose, mistakes from the remaining top contenders worked in the Frenchman’s favour. Belgium’s Armand Marchant delivered a clean run to finish just 0.07 seconds behind, notching his first-ever podium as well. Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath settled for third, +0.09 off the winning time.

A Dream Come True

An emotional Rassat struggled to find words after securing his maiden victory.
“This is insane… My dream just came true today,” he said, describing the win as the culmination of years of effort.

His triumph also earned him the red bib, overtaking last week’s Levi winner, Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who finished tenth in Gurgl.

Key Moments That Shaped the Race

Finland’s Eduard Hallberg looked set for a strong finish before crashing out just gates from the line.
Three-time World Cup winner McGrath lost valuable time due to small errors, handing Rassat the advantage.
World slalom champion Loïc Meillard had another frustrating outing, recording a DNF early in run two after starting the day in 20th place.

Changing snow conditions and fading light added to the unpredictability, making Rassat’s composed skiing even more impressive.