After setting the best time in the first run Odermatt must gave it all to beat a super second run of Filip Zubcic who had set the best time. The Swiss and the Croatian were in a league of their own.
The 26-year-old skier continued today his dominance of the Giant Slalom discipline on an extremely demanding slope. He finished 0.19 seconds ahead of the Croatian, and +2.26 seconds ahead of Zan Kranjec. He claimed his 26th Alpine Ski World Cup victory. He has won on the the technically demanding Gran Risa for the 3rd time.
Since Lenzerheide in March 2021, Marco Odermatt was on the podium in all the Giant Slalom races he has competed winning 14 of them. Since December 7, 2020, in Santa Caterina Odermatt has won 16 Giant Slalom events in the World Cup. Among Swiss men, only von Michael von Grünigen (23) won more Men's Giant Slalom World Cup events than Odermatt.
With his 16th victory in this discipline, he has overtaken Alberto Tomba, and is moving closer to Alexis Pinturault who has won 18 World Cup Giant Slalom events, ranking him fifth all-time among men.
The Swiss Ace became the first man to win five successive World Cup Giant Slalom races since Marcel Hirscher in 2017-2018. Besides Hirscher and Odermatt, the only other male alpine skier to have won at least five successive World Cup Giant Slalom races is Ingemark Stenmark who set a record of 14 in a row between 1978 and 1980.
"The switch from Downhill skis to Giant Slalom skis worked perfectly. A few turns on the shorter skis yesterday were worth it. The first run was very smooth. Before starting the second run I didn't know Zubcic's lead, I just heard the Croatians cheering. I knew as always, I had to keep risking and really push it and I’m happy with my run", Odermatt said.
Filip Zubcic has returned today to a World Cup podium two year after finishing in third position in Val d'Isère on December 2021. It's his 11th career podium.
"Maybe it was one of the best finishes that I’ve ever had. I didn’t know what to expect in the second run, but I pushed hard like a maniac. When I came into the finish area, I knew how good it was. I don’t know what to say, but finally Zubo is back", Zubcic said.
Zan Kranjec rounded up the podium in third position. It's his 12th podium in the World Cup, all in the Giant Salom. The last time on the podium was last year in the second Giant Slalom held in Alta Badia. He has finished on the podium four times in the Italian ski resort.
"I’m happy with my third place,for sure I’d prefer to not be two-seconds behind, but these two guys skied really, really good today. I’ve been better and better this year and for sure, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow", Kranjec said.
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