Featured Picture: Marco Odermatt. Credit score: GEPA
Marco Odermatt efficiently fought by means of the worsening circumstances to attain one other victory on the Val D’Isère large slalom observe. The 2024 general and large slalom globe winner has received 21 out of the 30 World Cup races previously three seasons.
He has additionally been triumphant on this hill three consecutive occasions, so in keeping with his report, this was a straightforward prediction for the highest of the rostrum.
Regardless of this, the Swiss celebrity has struggled to finish the final three GS occasions, so he wanted to execute a strategic strategy on his second run. Odermatt maintained a slim lead of -0.15 over the competitors after the primary run however maintained a powerful line on the pitch by means of the decrease part on the second run. He concluded the day -0.08 forward of the sector.
He acknowledged, “After not ending the final races, I actually needed to have a superb end result as we speak.”
With 23 profession GS victories earlier than the race as we speak, Marco Odermatt has tied Ted Ligety’s (USA) report of 24 GS wins.
“I actually love this place and I really like this ambiance when it’s darkish and snowy, like winter needs to be. That is precisely for me and I actually just like the powerful circumstances,” Odermatt acknowledged.
The Podium
The Austrian group claimed second and third place with excellent performances on the difficult hill.
Patrick Feurstein of Austria began the day carrying bib 24 and attacked from panel to panel on the second run. Feurstein began off the season, reaching eighth place in Sölden however didn’t qualify for the second run in Beaver Creek. He impressively sat within the chief’s chair, shifting up 22 locations and completed the day in 2nd.
This marks Feurstein’s first podium lead to an enormous slalom World Cup.
His teammate, Stefan Brennsteiner, has achieved 11 top-5 large slalom outcomes, which incorporates three podium outcomes. This marked Brennsteiner’s fourth World Cup GS podium.
Breensteiner had a tricky begin to the season with a DNF in Sölden, however then he turned it round in Beaver Creek. He achieved a Tenth-place lead to Beaver Creek and carried that momentum into as we speak.
North People
Tommy Ford of the Stifel US Ski Workforce delivered a powerful first run, securing his place as certainly one of solely two North American opponents to advance to the second run. Within the second run, he ignited from the beginning and was within the lead on the highest however misplaced some velocity on the pitch. Nonetheless, he accomplished the day, scoring his second World Cup factors of the 2025 season, ending with an 18th-place end result.
His teammate, River Radamus, had a considerable lead off at the beginning on the second run however misplaced some velocity on the steep pitch. He might push by means of to the end and accomplished the day in seventeenth place. Solely a tenth separated the 2 U.S. athletes.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen Skis Out
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, carrying the chief bib, entered the day holding the very best factors within the GS World Cup standings.
Braathen returned impressively after taking a 12 months off of ski racing final season, however through the second run as we speak, Braathen clipped a gate in the direction of the highest of the course and couldn’t regain his rhythm. He leaned in on the pitch and skied out.
Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen completed the day impressively in fifth place, taking the lead within the World Cup GS standings with 170 factors.
Clement Noël Falls First Run
The hometown favourite, Clement Noël, sadly fell on the primary run. The most recent report was that the French athlete didn’t undergo a fracture in his ankle, however he did hit his mouth. We’ve got not obtained an replace on whether or not he’ll race within the slalom tomorrow to shoot for an additional victory in entrance of his native crowd.
Notable Performances
Swiss athlete Luca Aerni was the very best bib quantity to qualify for the second run and was the primary to kick out of the beginning gate. Making the most of the clear observe, Aerni achieved 4th place, the perfect GS results of his profession.
Tormis Laine from Estonia, snowboarding for International Racing, claimed his first World Cup large slalom factors, ending the day in 14th place.
Alban Elezi Cannaferina had his World Cup debut in his homeland and will execute. He efficiently achieved his first factors on the circuit. He completed the day in twenty third place.
High 30 Outcomes
Evaluation of the High Three
Evaluation of the High North People
First run race protection: https://skiracing.com/marco-odermatt-sets-the-pace-with-top-position-after-first-run-in-val-disere/
