The Swiss giant slalom trumps fail to make a good start to the new season in Sölden. Marcel Hirscher and Lucas Pinheiro Braathen make it to the second run in their spectacular comebacks.
27.10.2024, 11:13
27.10.2024, 11:38
SDA
Marco Odermatt was eliminated in the first run at the overture in the Öztal, Loïc Meillard had to withdraw from the race at short notice due to back problems. Lucas Braathen Pinheiro moved up to 19th place with bib number 41, and former champion Marcel Hirscher, who returned after five years, also made it into the second run in 28th place.
"The important thing for me today was not to make a fool of myself. I think I managed that," said the 35-year-old, six-time giant slalom crystal globe winner Hirscher with relief.
Steen Olsen in the lead
Norway's Alexander Steen Olsen is in the lead with a small margin ahead of Croatia's Filip Zubcic and his compatriot Henrik Kristoffersen. Thomas Tumler is the best Swiss skier in 4th place after half the course, 42 hundredths behind Steen Olsen and 34 hundredths off the podium. The second best Swiss after the first run is Gino Caviezel in 11th place. The second run starts at 13:00.
Odermatt, who opened the season with the number 1, got off to an impressive start - and was then eliminated, just like at the derniere in Saalbach last spring, when his streak in the giant slalom broke after twelve victories. The man from Nidwalden slipped on the inside ski after around 40 seconds. Loïc Meillard, the Swiss number 2, had to declare a forfeit due to a blow to the back on entering.
Odermatt without resentment
Odermatt was more than half a second faster at the intermediate time before his inside ski error than his strongest competitors who started afterwards. He wasn't too upset about his retirement. "It's a shame, but I'm not sad at all. I drove really well at the top. It was so easy, it felt so good. I was extremely happy to open the season with the number 1. Maybe I was a bit over-motivated. Well then, no series has been broken, no balls have been lost - I'm taking the positives with me," said Odermatt.
