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After protest over sponsor flap, Henrik Kristoffersen wins slalom

Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen celebrates after winning an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Val d'Isere, France, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. (Giovanni Auletta / Associated Press)
Associated Press

VAL D’ISERE, France – Motivated after missing a race over a sponsor flap, Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway won a World Cup slalom Sunday as first-run leader Alexis Pinturault straddled a gate in his second trip down.

After coming down in the lead, Kristoffersen beat his chest with his fist in an extended celebration.

The Norwegian finished with a large gap of 0.75 seconds ahead of five-time defending overall champion Marcel Hirscher.

Alexander Khoroshilov of Russia took third, nearly two seconds back.

Kristoffersen, the World Cup slalom winner last season, skipped the opening slalom of the season in Levi, Finland, last month to protest being blocked from wearing the helmet of a personal sponsor.

Hirscher increased his overall lead over Pinturault to 156 points.

It was the 11th World Cup win of Kristoffersen’s career.