Story byAustria's Manuel Feller in action during the first run of the men's slalom competition of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in Kitzbuehe. Hans Klaus Techt/APA/dpaDPASun, January 25, 2026 at 2:43 PM UTC·2 min readManuel Feller restored Austrian pride with a sensational victory in the Kitzbühel slalom on Sunday. Feller rose from fourth after the first run to first as he won .35 of a second ahead of Swiss world champion and first run leader Loic Meillard. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe 2024 race winner Linus Strasser of Germany shot from 10th to third for his first season podium, .53 off the pace. Feller gave Austria lots to cheer the day after the host nation had to swallow its worst ever downhill result in Kitzbühel, with Vincent Kriechmayr their best in 13th. Feller is the first Kitzbühel slalom winner from Austria in nine years since Marcel Hirscher in 2017. He is the first Austrian to win a slalom this season and the sixth different winner from eight races."Right now, it's difficult to put this victory into words," Feller told Austrian broadcasters ORF after a seventh career victory. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I've often dreamed about it.