FIS Alpine Ski World Cup 2024/25: Alexander Steen Olsen leads Norway 1-2-3 in Sölden as Marco Odermatt crashes out
Steen Olsen claimed his first World Cup giant slalom win at the season-opener in Austria with Marco Odermatt crashing out on the first run. On their comebacks, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen was fourth with Marcel Hirscher 23rd.
Alpine Skiing
Norwegian ace Alexander Steen Olsen consolidated his lead after the first run to claim his first Alpine Skiing FIS World Cup giant slalom victory in Sölden, Austria on Sunday (27 October).
The 23-year-old Olsen led a Norwegian podium sweep as he successfully navigated the deteriorating course as the last man out on the piste.
Steen Olsen’s first-run time ultimately gave him the edge as he was eighth-fastest on the second run for a combined time of 2:09.50. This was his second World Cup win after he took the Palisades Tahoe slalom in February 2023.
Henrik Kristoffersen was 0.65 back in second with Atle Lie McGrath one hundredth of a second further behind to make it a Norway one-two-three. Former Norwegian Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, now representing Brazil, was quickest on the second run to take fourth.
On his first race back since retiring after the 2018/19 season, the great Marcel Hirscher finished in 23rd place.
The season-opener was a disappointment for Swiss ace Marco Odermatt who crashed out on the first run.
The Olympic champion dominated the slopes last season, winning all but one giant slalom race to claim his third consecutive Crystal Globe title in the discipline. Odermatt lined up in Sölden as the three-time defending overall World Cup champion.
But his hopes of a strong start to the campaign were dashed early on as he slipped at a turning gate for a rare DNF.
Contrasting fortunes for Pinheiro Braathen and Hirscher on return
Besides being the opening race of the season, the respective returns of Braathen and Hirscher from retirement hogged the headlines.
Two-time Olympic champion Hirscher - now representing the Netherlands - dominated the sport for nearly a decade, winning eight overall World Cup titles before calling it quits five years ago.
Meanwhile, Pinheiro Braathen was back on the piste after his shock retirement from the sport a year ago after winning the 2022/23 World Cup slalom title.
Both men made the second run with 35-year-old Hirscher in 28th and Braathen just inside the top 20. The former Austrian star improved his position slightly to finish in 23rd, but Braathen was inspired.
The 24-year-old was quickest on the second run and only his three former Norwegian team-mates denied him a comeback podium finish.
Croatia’s Filip Zubcic, second after the first run, was going well on the second run before crashing out to leave the Norwegians at the top of the timesheets.
Sölden, 2024/25 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup: Results from men's giant slalom, 27 October 2024 (top 10):
- Alexander Steen Olsen (NOR) 2:09.50
- Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) +0.65
- Atle Lie McGrath (NOR) +0.66
- Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA) +0.90
- Alex Vinatzer (ITA) +1.10
- Zan Kranjec (SLO) +1.26
- Raphael Haaser (AUT) +1.35
- Patrick Feurstein (AUT) +1.45
- Gino Caviezel (SUI) +1.51
- Luca de Aliprandini (ITA) +1.56