Dave Ryding took another step forward in his Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games preparation despite missing out on the chance to make history in St Moritz.
The Great Britain alpine slalom star was looking to become the country’s first World Championship medallist in the discipline, an accolade that certainly held plenty of potential when sitting fourth after the first run.
But Ryding, like most of the front-runners, was the unfortunate recipient of some difficult skiing conditions late on in the contest, forced to settle for an overall finish of 11th place.
However, the disappointment of missing out on the top ten spoke volumes of just how impressive the season has been for the 30-year-old, a campaign that has certainly seen both he and his sport thrust back into the limelight.
Not only is Ryding currently sat fifth in the world, but he is also one of just three men to finish and score points in all the World Cup races this season.
Couple those facts with a second-place finish in Kitzbuhel – the best British alpine result in 35 years – amidst four top-ten slalom placings, and it’s easy to see why it’s been a breakthrough season.
But for the Lancashire skier, who finished the slalom 47th at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, this is merely the beginning of the journey.
Ryding has already seen his year-on-year standings rocket since his debut season, ending outside the top 50 in his first full calendar in 2013, with results backing up the progression that those in the know have been more than aware of.
And, with three more World Cup ever to come before the season concludes, there is still plenty of time more a mark to be made with less than a year to go until Pyeongchang.
“I just wish I could have done better,” he said after the race, before tweeting: “I huffed and I puffed but it wasn't to be. I learned a lot from today and step by step forward. 11th is still very respectable.”
Marcel Hirscher took top spot and a sixth World Championship medal, while Britain's Alexandra Tilley finished 25th in the women’s event in a combined time of 1:42.72. Sportsbeat 2017