Swiss skier Marco Odermatt triumphed over local favorite Marco Schwarz at the men’s World Cup giant slalom opening race in Sölden, Austria. Odermatt extended his slim first-run lead of 0.01 seconds to clinch victory by 0.24 seconds, marking his 46th career win and 27th giant slalom win. Schwarz, making his comeback after a series of injuries, secured his first podium finish in nearly two years.
Norwegian Atle Lie McGrath secured the third spot, trailing behind by 0.03 seconds. The challenging weather conditions, including poor visibility and light snowfall, made the race tough for all competitors. Odermatt praised the course workers and his own performance for the win.
The second run faced an hour delay due to increased snowfall, requiring course workers to clear the race line. Despite initial visibility issues and two 30-minute postponements, the race eventually proceeded with improved conditions. Schwarz’s teammate Stefan Brennsteiner slipped to fourth place after the second run.
Odermatt acknowledged the strong performance of the Austrian team, especially Schwarz, who narrowly missed securing Austria’s second victory of the World Cup season. Canadian skiers Erik Read and William St-Germain finished 37th and 60th, respectively, in the opening run.
Odermatt, a dominant force in giant slalom, had a fierce rivalry with Schwarz in previous seasons. The Swiss skier has claimed the giant slalom title for four consecutive seasons but faced challenges like skiing out of last year’s opening race. Notably, last year’s winner, Aleksander Steen Olsen, was absent due to a knee injury.
Brazilian skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, aiming for Brazil’s first World Cup win in Alpine skiing, skied out of the course during his first run due to a miscalculation. The competition also saw notable performances from world champion Raphael Haaser and former champion Alexis Pinturault.
The men’s World Cup will continue with a slalom event in Levi, Finland, on Nov. 16. Fans can catch the live action on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.
