FIS Alpine Ski World Cup 2024/25: Marco Odermatt dominates Alta Badia men's giant slalom, claiming 41st victory
Switzerland's Olympic champion champion defied difficult conditions on Gran Risa piste to deliver a stunning performance in Italy.
Alpine Skiing
Marco Odermatt showed off his sensational skills on Sunday (22 December) to emphatically win the giant slalom at the 2024/25 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in Alta Badia, Italy.
Despite tricky conditions on the Gran Risa piste, the overall World Cup leader powered to victory in 2:31.45. France's Leo Anguenot was 0.85 seconds behind the Swiss in second place, with Norwegian Alexander Steen Olsen in third. Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen, who led the giant slalom standings until Sunday, could finish only ninth, coming in nearly two seconds behind Odermatt. With his 41st victory, Odermatt has now become the most successful Swiss male skier in World Cup history.
Odermatt, who won the downhill in Val Gardena on Saturday and who also triumphed twice last year on the Gran Risa, said: "It has been a hard week with the downhill in Val Gardena and now here GS, so I'm very happy I could make the switch to the GS turns and having another victory here is amazing.
"I think every run is different down here. Today in the morning, it was very difficult with the changing conditions. But in the second run, I felt better. Also, after the inspection, I saw that the underground is better, so I knew I can ski my plan, I can attack, it's less dangerous. So I just found my flow."
Leo Anguenot is the surprise package
Anguenot's second place on the Gran Risa came as a big surprise as the Frenchman's previous-best result at a World Cup event was 13th. But where some of the big names of the sport, notably Kristoffersen faltered, Anguenot kept his composure to claim a spot on the podium.
Odermatt said of Anguenot: "It's very nice to see those happy faces. We all know how hard this job is, how much we're working for things, so it's great to see other guys achieving their dreams and having a good time."
Croatia's Filip Zubcic, who topped the Alta Badia GS standings after the first run, ended up in fourth place, 0.93 seconds behind Odermatt.
Switzerland's Marco Odermatt celebrates after winning the men's Giant Slalom, during the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in Alta Badia on December 22, 2024.
FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup 2024/25 - Alta Badia men's giant slalom, 22 December 2024 - Results
1. Marco Odermatt (SUI) 2:31.45
2. Leo Anguenot (FRA) +0.85
3. Alexander Steen Olsen (NOR) +0.88
4. Filip Zubcic (CRO) +0.93
5. Timon Haugan (NOR) +1.03
6. Atle Lie McGrath (NOR) +1.25
7. Zan Kranjec (SLO) +1.72
8. Alex Vinatzer (ITA) +1.94
9. Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) +1.99
10. Thibaut Favrot (FRA) +2.11