Swiss skier Daniel Yule wins Madonna di Campiglio slalom for 2nd year in a row
Italian course the site of both 26-year-old's career victories
Swiss skier Daniel Yule showed his surprising victory a year ago was no fluke by winning a World Cup night slalom again Wednesday in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy.
Protecting his first-run advantage, the 26-year-old Yule won by 0.15 seconds ahead of Norwegian favourite Henrik Kristoffersen, also a two-time victor on the steep and icy Canalone Miramonti course.
Frenchman Clement Noel, the winner in Zagreb, Croatia, on Sunday, finished third, 0.25 behind, after posting the fastest second run to move up from eighth.
Calgary's Erik Read was the top Canadian, finishing 1.45 seconds behind in 11th. Toronto's Trevor Philp was 39th, while Simon Fournier of Montreal was 56th.
Yule, who hasn't won anywhere else on tour, took the victory in last year's race when first-run leaders Marcel Hirscher — who has since retired — and Kristoffersen straddled gates in the second leg.
Sebastian Foss-Solevaag of Norway was fourth and Alexis Pinturault of France was fifth.
Pinturault moved back atop the overall standings, one point ahead of Norwegian speed specialist Aleksander Aamodt Kilde and four points ahead of Kristoffersen in what is shaping up to be a close fight to succeed Hirscher, the eight-time defending overall champion.
Kristoffersen moved atop the slalom standings, two points ahead of Noel.
The men next go to Adelboden, Switzerland, for a giant slalom and slalom this weekend.