Olympic gold medalist Marco Odermatt emerged victorious in the season-opening men’s World Cup giant slalom in the Austrian Alps at Sölden, fending off a strong challenge from local favorite Marco Schwarz. Despite adverse weather conditions causing a delay in the final run, Odermatt extended his narrow first-run lead of 0.01 seconds to clinch the win with a time of 1 minute 56.03 seconds, securing his 46th career victory and 27th in giant slalom.
Schwarz, who had been sidelined by knee and back injuries for nearly two years, celebrated his return to form with a podium finish. Atle Lie McGrath of Norway completed the top three, finishing just 0.03 seconds behind Schwarz.
Speaking about the challenging conditions, Odermatt commended the course workers for their efforts and expressed satisfaction with his performance. The second run faced an hour-long delay due to increased snowfall, requiring the course to be cleared before the racers could proceed. Despite initial visibility issues and multiple start time delays, the race eventually commenced as conditions improved.
Acknowledging the strong showing by the Austrian team, Odermatt praised Schwarz’s performance and competitiveness. The event marked a successful start to the World Cup season, following Julia Scheib’s victory in the women’s race the day before.
Noteworthy performances included Calgary’s Erik Read finishing 37th and William St-Germain of Mont Sainte-Anne, Que., placing 60th in the opening run. Odermatt’s rivalry with Schwarz in previous seasons was highlighted, with the Swiss skier maintaining a dominant presence in the giant slalom discipline.
The competition also saw Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil facing a setback as he skied out of the course during his run. Despite the disappointment, Pinheiro Braathen remains determined to secure Brazil’s first-ever World Cup win in Alpine skiing.
Looking ahead, the men’s World Cup will proceed with a slalom event in Levi, Finland, on Nov. 16. Fans can catch the action live on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem as the season unfolds.
