Alpine ski World Cup 23/24: Marco Odermatt dominates foggy Adelboden giant slalom to win again
Odermatt's thrilled his home fans with his fourth giant slalom triumph from four races this season ahead of Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, as River Radamus took a career-best fourth.
Alpine Skiing
Who can stop Marco Odermatt right now?
Even in tricky conditions, the Swiss skier proved unbeatable again on the 2023/24 Alpine Ski World Cup circuit by winning his home Adelboden giant slalom for the third year running on Saturday (6 January).
Poor visibility caused by heavy fog and overcast weather resulted in the start being lowered for both runs, providing for shorter races than the men normally race.
However, none of that troubled the mercurial Odermatt who thrilled the home fans with a massive lead in the opening run.
Odermatt entered the second run holding a 1.15-second lead on interim leader Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, an advantage that only grew. The Swiss posted fast first and third sectors to come home in a combined time of 1:54.06 for his fourth giant slalom victory from four races of the season.
He also became just the third man ever to win three giant slalom races in a row at Adelboden after Ingemar Stenmark and Hermann Maier.
Norway's speed specialist Kilde excelled on the second run in extreme fog to seal his first career giant slalom World Cup podium. Third after the first descent, the Norwegian posted the third-fastest second run to seal a second place finish 1.26 seconds behind Odermatt, overtaking Stefan Brennsteiner who fell out of the podium spots.
Croatia's Filip Zubcic, 12th after the first run, made up nine places to complete the podium, 1.77 seconds behind Odermatt.
American River Radamus clinched a World Cup career-best fourth place having been joint-20th following the opening run.
"That was obviously not an easy, nice race today. Difficult conditions, somehow I reminded myself to Beijing two years ago, similar conditions, so I just tried to push and enjoy the crowd," Odermatt told FIS TV, before joking that his home crowd – which gave him massive support – was not loud enough.
"No, you have to be louder next year! I just tried to focus on myself, maybe I heard them, maybe not, but I definitely heard them at the finish."
The men will race again in Adelboden on Sunday for a slalom race.
Adelboden, FIS World Cup: Results from men's giant slalom, 6 January 2024 (top 10):
- Marco Odermatt (SUI) 1:54.06
- Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR) +1.26
- Filip Zubcic (CRO) +1.77
- River Radamus (USA) +1.89
- Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) +1.97
- Alexander Steen Olsen (NOR) +2.01
- Atle Lie McGrath (NOR) +2.03
- Luca di Aliprandini (ITA) +2.12
- Rasmus Windingstad (NOR) +2.27
- Alexander Schmid (GER) +2.28