Marco Odermatt is dominating the Ski World Cup again this year. But of all things, he was once again denied victory in the downhill on the Streif. According to Marco Büchel, however, this could have been dangerous for him anyway. Büchel was already hoping before the race that Odi would come away empty-handed in the Hahnenkamm downhill again this year.
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- Marco Odermatt dominates the Ski World Cup, but according to former racer Marco Büchel, a victory in the Kitzbühel downhill could jeopardize his motivation.
- Büchel suspects that Odermatt will reduce his racing program in the long term to prevent physical and mental overload.
- The Kitzbühel victory is seen as a key moment, which is why Büchel was already hoping for a further postponement before the race to keep Odermatt's ambition alive.
Marco Odermatt has won almost everything there is to win in alpine skiing. Overall World Cup, discipline rankings, World Championship titles, Olympic gold. Only one thing is still missing: victory in the downhill in Kitzbühel. Before the season, he declared this as a major goal. Now it's clear: the 28-year-old will miss out again.
Former downhill crack Marco Büchel, however, let his hopes be known before the race. "I don't want Odermatt to win in Kitzbühel," the Liechtenstein native told the Tagesanzeiger newspaper.
Not because he didn't wish Odermatt the long-awaited victory on the Streif, quite the opposite. However, Büchel seems to be worried that the World Cup dominator could lose motivation once he has achieved his last major goal. "I want him to have this big goal for even longer and stay hungry!"
Hunger for victory in danger of being lost
The 54-year-old recalls that Odermatt himself recently hinted at doubts. "Even last time in Alta Badia, he said that he lacked the final hunger to win." For Büchel, one thing is clear: the Swiss superstar is still driven by many things - but not indefinitely. "I'm sure that Marco will act accordingly."
Specifically, Büchel expects Odermatt to reduce his program in the medium term. The big records are achievable, but the price is high. "In terms of victories, he will catch up with Marcel Hirscher (67 wins), maybe even Ingemar Stenmark (86). But over time, he will miss races."
Overall World Cup suddenly no longer important?
The overall World Cup in particular could become less important. "Maybe he won't care whether he wins the overall World Cup for the seventh, eighth or ninth time." Instead, a clearer focus is conceivable - even at the expense of individual disciplines. "It is conceivable that he will give up giant slaloms at some point."
For Büchel, the reason is obvious: the enormous workload. "His current program with three disciplines, with all the downhill training sessions and other appointments - he probably won't be able to cope with that for years. It's too intense and wears you out."
In sporting terms, Büchel would have believed Odermatt was capable of winning the Streif triumph. "I'd bet over a thousand francs on it. Last year, he overdid it a bit with the risk on the Streif, he wanted to win almost at the drop of a hat. He's definitely learned from that."
Unfortunately, Büchel would have lost this costly bet by 7 hundredths.
