Swiss ace Marco Odermatt wins World Cup giant slalom
ADELBODEN, Switzerland (AP) — Marco Odermatt carried his remarkable streak in giant slalom to another World Cup win on Saturday at his home country’s classic, which was held in unseasonably warm weather.
In the fading light, Olympic champion Odermatt secured his lead from the first run and even extended it to 0.73 seconds ahead of Henrik Kristoffersen with the best time in the second leg.
“I was at the limit two, three, four times on the inside ski. It was incredible,” Odermatt told Swiss broadcaster RTS about his aggressive second run.
Kristoffersen bowed respectfully as he greeted Odermatt in the finish area and gave him a thumbs-up. Odermatt’s teammate Loïc Meillard was third, 1.66 behind.
A fourth win in five World Cup giant slaloms since October for the 25-year-old Swiss was also his 14th consecutive podium finish in his outstanding discipline in the last two seasons. That run includes his gold medal at the Beijing Olympics last February.
Odermatt’s 17th career World Cup win was his 11th in giant slalom. The defending champion thus further extended his lead in the overall World Cup rankings.
“If such a fast course is set in the second race and Marco flies like he is at the moment, then I know that the chances are not that great,” said Kristoffersen after his fifth podium finish in his career at the Adelboden classic without a win. “Still the only one who is a bit close (to Odermatt) and far ahead of everyone else.”
The home favorite was roared to the finish by over 20,000 sold-out spectators, most of whom had gathered around the steep final slope of the legendary Chuenisbärgli course.
Several weeks of warm and snow-free winter weather in central Europe created conditions that Swiss broadcasters described as “almost a miracle” that organizers were able to stage a race.
The racers descended a white ribbon of soft, sun-drenched artificial snow bordered by lush green fields that are cow pastures in summer.
The temperature was just above freezing on Saturday morning for heat one, rising to around 7 degrees Celsius (45 Fahrenheit) when stage two started at 1:30 p.m. local time.
The light in Adelboden is fading quickly as the sun sets behind the surrounding hills during the second run and the leaders of the first run waited a 15-minute break after Victor Muffat-Jeandet fell.
The Frenchman was flipped when his right arm hit a turning gate and crashed into guard rails. Muffat-Jeandet was taken away on a stretcher, his injuries were unclear.
It was relatively late at 2:40 p.m. when Odermatt, as the last starter, was able to open up a large lead right after Kristoffersen’s impressive run.
“I really enjoyed the race today. After last year I know that I can win this race,” said Odermatt, who ended Switzerland’s 14-year wait for a home winner a year ago.
With 100 World Cup points for the win, Odermatt now leads with 400 total points ahead of Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who finished ninth in a rare start in giant slalom on Saturday.
“Top 10 today is amazing,” said Kilde, the 2020 overall winner who leads the downhill standings. “With car number 31 and as a result it’s really amazing.”
Adelboden hosts a slalom on Sunday, which Odermatt skips, and Kristoffersen is ranked favorite for another podium finish in a race he has won twice.
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