Swiss skier Marco Odermatt emerged victorious in the men’s World Cup giant slalom season opener in Sölden, Austria, fending off a strong challenge from local favorite Marco Schwarz. Despite adverse weather conditions causing delays, Odermatt extended his narrow lead from the first run by 0.24 seconds to clinch the win with a time of 1:56.03. This marked Odermatt’s 46th career victory, with 27 of those wins coming in giant slalom events. Schwarz, who secured his first podium finish in almost two years following a series of injuries, finished in second place. Atle Lie McGrath of Norway claimed the third spot, just 0.03 seconds behind Schwarz.
The competition faced challenges due to poor visibility and snowfall, prompting a delay before the final run. Despite the obstacles, course workers and athletes persevered through the tough conditions. Odermatt acknowledged the difficulty but commended the efforts of the course workers for ensuring a fair race.
Following delays, the second run finally commenced after adjustments were made to the course. Schwarz’s teammate Stefan Brennsteiner, initially in third place after the first run, slipped to fourth in the final standings. Odermatt praised the Austrian team’s performance, particularly Schwarz, who showcased a strong comeback, narrowly missing out on securing Austria’s second victory in the World Cup season.
In the race, Canadian skiers Erik Read and William St-Germain finished in 37th and 60th place, respectively. Odermatt and Schwarz, who had a previous rivalry in the overall standings, displayed their competitive spirit once again. Odermatt, a consistent performer in giant slalom, faced challenges in the previous season but returned to claim the GS title for the fourth consecutive year.
Notably, last year’s winner Aleksander Steen Olsen was absent from the race due to a knee injury. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil, aiming for Brazil’s first World Cup victory in Alpine skiing, faced a setback as he skied out of the course during his run. The men’s World Cup will continue in Levi, Finland, with a slalom event scheduled for November 16. Viewers can catch the action live on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem by referring to the CBC Sports broadcast schedule for further details.
