Marco Odermatt gives the competition no chance in the Lauberhorn downhill. The man from Nidwalden shines on the course thanks to his technical qualities and incomparable instinct.
17.01.2026, 16:41
17.01.2026, 18:21
SDA
"If you don't take risks there, you can't win." For Marco Odermatt, it is clear what was decisive in his third victory in the fourth downhill of the season: he skied perfectly through the Kernen-S and took half a second or more off almost all his competitors. Only four skiers (Kriechmayr, Franzoni, Innerhofer, Muzaton) were able to keep up to some extent in this sector, although they also lost at least two tenths of a second.
And once this key section had been mastered, the 28-year-old's self-confidence continued to grow. "I already felt good at the start and had a clear plan," said Odermatt. "And when you realize that the ski is going great, then you can move the way you want. Then you can take risks and don't even feel like you're at the limit." Once again, everything worked out for the Swiss, who won the Lauberhorn downhill for the fourth time in a row.
Happy about the narrower Kernen-S
Odermatt has been competing in the World Cup races in Wengen since 2022 and has now made twelve starts. This has resulted in five victories, four further podium places and two 4th and one 7th place. Odermatt has an unparalleled record on the legendary course.
It is a special terrain, Odermatt explained beforehand. "It's actually not particularly challenging, so not very steep. Nevertheless, there are two technical passages, the Kernen-S and the Ziel-S, which are decisive for the course of the race. And I've almost always managed them well so far."
Accordingly, Odermatt was also pleased that the Kernen-S was made narrower again compared to last year. He was pleased in two ways, he said: "From a purely selfish perspective, but also because I think that traditional sections of the course such as the Kernen-S should not be changed. After all, they only exist once in the world."
Due to their uniqueness, such passages are almost impossible to train. Accordingly, the highest technical skills and the right instinct are required to master them. Odermatt has both, and this is the only reason why he was able to pull out a lead of 79 hundredths of a second over the runner-up, even on the course that was shortened due to gusts of wind.
Incredible consistency
It is precisely because of his technical qualities, which his competitors also emphasize time and again, that Odermatt's finishes off the podium are often accompanied by an "only". Even on Friday he was "only fourth" for many in the super-G. It is the price of his incredible consistency, with which Odermatt manages to regularly finish on the podium in three disciplines.
How he still manages to push himself to this high level after years of dominance is down to various factors, explained Odermatt. "The material has to give you exactly what you want to feel in order to be able to push yourself to the limit. But you also need the mental attitude: you have to be ready in your head to take the necessary risks."
Odermatt explained that he doesn't always manage to do this 100% on two or more days in a row. However, he is always ready for highlights such as the giant slalom in Adelboden or the downhill in Wengen.
Now Odermatt is once again looking to Kitzbühel, where he celebrated his first victory last year thanks to the super-G. It's no secret that he would love to add the downhill on the Streif to his palmarès. The prerequisites for this premiere are in place.
