ADELBODEN, Switzerland — Marco Odermatt, the formidable Swiss skiing icon, continues to dominate the World Cup giant slalom, showcasing his prowess at his beloved home race in Adelboden.
On Sunday, Odermatt dashed from a third-place standing in his second run to clinch victory, marking his fourth consecutive win at this event. This triumph also signifies his 15th World Cup giant slalom win since February 2023, where he has finished successfully every time, aside from three races where he skied out.
Odermatt’s success on Sunday came at the expense of fellow teammate Loïc Meillard, who led after the first run but ended up 0.20 seconds behind without any significant errors. “It was a fierce battle today against Loïc,” remarked Odermatt, noting that Meillard has finished as the runner-up three times during Odermatt’s winning streak. Notably, Meillard has claimed victory in one of the three races where Odermatt could not finish.
Luca De Aliprandini made an impressive leap from 12th place in the morning to secure third, finishing 0.69 seconds behind Odermatt. De Aliprandini was the only competitor to outpace Odermatt in the second run, as the Olympic and world champion navigated the challenging course with aggressive finesse, even feeling his skis converge as he approached the steep final slope.
Both Henrik Kristoffersen from Norway and Atle Lie McGrath, who was born in the United States, did not finish their second runs, crashing out early.
With this latest victory, Odermatt has matched the record established by Alpine skiing legend Ingemar Stenmark, who similarly won four consecutive races on the renowned Chuenisbaergli hill from 1979 to 1982. As part of the traditions at Adelboden, winners have their footprints cast in molds, which are then immortalized on a stone memorial displayed in the village. Additionally, the three top finishers receive large cowbells that they ceremoniously ring following the race.
The 27-year-old Odermatt has bolstered his standings in both the giant slalom and overall World Cup rankings, aiming for his fourth straight crystal trophy in each discipline. Furthermore, he currently leads in downhill and super-G categories as he preps for upcoming competitions at nearby Wengen next weekend.
The giant slalom event attracted a massive crowd of approximately 15,000 spectators, potentially setting a record for a Sunday in Adelboden, at a venue that has been a staple in World Cup history for all 58 seasons.
On a brighter note, beautifully clear skies and sunny weather with temperatures reaching -9 Celsius (16 Fahrenheit) replaced the dense fog and snowfall that persisted during Saturday’s slalom competition. The event schedule was rearranged to ensure that the giant slalom could proceed without cancellation.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, the Norwegian-born skier representing Brazil who finished second on Saturday, did not complete his first run on Sunday.
