Marco Odermatt retains overall World Cup title with Kranjska Gora giant slalom win
The Swiss claimed his fifth World Cup giant slalom win of the season to clinch the big Crystal Globe and all but seal the discipline crown.
Alpine Skiing
Marco Odermatt retained his Alpine Ski World Cup overall title with victory in the Kranjska Gora giant slalom on Saturday (11 March).
The reigning world and Olympic giant slalom champion was not at his best on the second run, but won by 0.23 from Alexis Pinturault with Henrik Kristoffersen, Odermatt's nearest challenger in the giant slalom World Cup, third.
Odermatt, who was over half a second quicker than his rivals on the first run and eight-tenths quicker than the Frenchman, lost all of that advantage on the top half of the second run as underski conditions worsened in mild temperatures. But he managed to find speed at the bottom to take another win.
He told FIS afterwards, "It's another perfect day for me. Very very warm conditions, it wasn't easy to stay focused at the start. Everything was so soft, the boots, the skis, so it wasn't easy to ski but very happy I could win this race."
Austria's Stefan Brennsteiner was fourth ahead of home favourite Zan Kranjec who was second after the first run.
This victory saw Odermatt extend his lead over Kristoffersen in the giant slalom standings to 140 points with two races to go.
The Swiss now holds an overall World Cup advantage of 486 points over Aleksander Aamodt Kilde with five races remaining and a potential 500 points at stake. But the first of those is another giant slalom at Kranjska Gora on Sunday with the Norwegian not racing in Slovenia this weekend.
After Sunday's race, the discipline finale is at the World Cup Finals in Soldeu, Andorra taking place next Saturday.
Results from Kranjska Gora men's World Cup giant slalom on 11 March 2023 (top 10):
1. Marco Odermatt (SUI) 2:16.65
2. Alexis Pinturault (FRA) +0.23
3. Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) +0.37
4. Stefan Brennsteiner (AUT) +0.72
5. Zan Kranjec (SLO) +1.04
6. Gino Caviezel (SUI) +1.11
7. Loic Meillard (SUI) +1.48
8. Lucas Braathen (NOR) +1.68
9. Marco Schwarz (AUT) +1.79
10. Luca de Aliprandini (ITA) +2.14
World Cup giant slalom standings after Kranjska Gora giant slalom on 11 March 2023
- Marco Odermatt (SUI) 640 pts
- Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) 500
- Zan Kranjec (SLO) 390
World Cup overall standings after Kranjska Gora giant slalom on 11 March 2023
- Marco Odermatt (SUI) 1,726 pts
- Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR) 1,240
- Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) 934