Marco Odermatt snatches "dream" win at opening Giant Slalom in Soelden
Last year's overall runner-up took his fifth World Cup career win as he edged out Austria's Roland Leitinger, with Zan Kranjec of Slovenia in third.
Alpine Skiing
Alpine skiing rising star Marco Odermatt started the men's Alpine ski season with a victory in the opening GS in Soelden, Austria on Sunday (24 October).
The 24-year-old Swiss, who finished second in the overall rankings last season, was the fastest after two runs on the steep course on the Rettenbech glacier and finished 0.07 seconds ahead of first-run leader Roland Leitinger of Austria**.**
Zan Kranjec of Slovenia completed the podium, 0.10 seconds behind Odermatt.
In front of around 9,000 spectators - the same as in yesterday's women's race - last year's winner Lucas Braathen of Norway recorded the fastest time in the second run and ended in seventh place, while overall and GS World Cup champion Alexis Pinturault came in fifth behind Odermatt's teammate Gino Caviezel.
Three-time Youth Olympic Games gold medallist River Radamus, who sported a leopard print hairstyle, kicked off his Olympic campaing in style by claiming a career-best sixth place.
A "dream" start for Odermatt
This was Odermatt's fifth career win in the World Cup, the third in giant slalom.
"Soelden is always special for me, five years ago I scored here my first World Cup points," said the six-time junior world champion, who became the fourth Swiss man to win at the Austrian resort in the World Cup, after Steve Locher (1996/97), Daniel Albrecht (2008/09) and his idol Didier Cuche (2009/10)
"To start a season with a victory is something I always dreamed about and it's really great to start like this."
The Swiss, who finished second in last season's giant slalom standings, will rest for a few days before flying off to the United States, with the speed events in Lake Louise (Canada) and Beaver Creek (USA) taking place in late November and early December.
The next stop in the World Cup season will be in Lech/Zuers (Austria), with the men's Parallel event scheduled on 14 November.
Results Men's Giant Slalom in Soelden, Austria
- Marco Odermatt (SUI) 2:05.94
- Roland Leitinger (AUT) 2:06.01
- Zan Kranjec (SLO) 2:06.04
- Gino Caviezel (SUI) 2:06.33
- Alexis Pinturault (FRA) 2:06.56
- River Radamus (USA) 2:06.62
- Lucas Braathen (NOR) 2:06.66
- Luca De Aliprandini (ITA) 2:06.73
- Filip Zubcic (CRO) 2:06.83
- Rasmus Windigstad (NOR) 2:06.86
- Mathieu Faivre (FRA) 2:06.92