SELVA DI VAL GARDENA, Italy — Marco Odermatt has finally achieved success at the Saslong, showcasing his exceptional skills in a spectacular performance.
During a World Cup race held on Saturday in Val Gardena, the three-time overall World Cup champion showcased what he regarded as “one of my best” downhill runs, re-emerging with a powerful presence.
The 27-year-old Swiss skier finished ahead of his compatriot Franjo von Allmen by a margin of 0.45 seconds, marking his inaugural win at this resort nestled in the Italian Dolomites.
Despite having secured four podium finishes at this location before, including a notable run in Saturday’s super-G event, this victory was even more significant for Odermatt, as he had never previously finished better than second place.
This triumph represents Odermatt’s 40th career World Cup victory, although it’s only his third in downhill racing.
“I consider it to be one of my best performances in downhill skiing,” Odermatt expressed. “To take home the win in this category, you must execute a perfect run. Today, right from the start—which isn’t usually my strongest section—I felt strong, soared over the jumps well, and everything fell into place. I am genuinely happy with my run.”
This victory comes after a less than ideal start to the season for Odermatt, at least by his exceptional standards. The skier erupted in joy multiple times upon crossing the finish line, waving his skis in celebration and letting out another spirited shout.
Before his impressive run, the competition was remarkably intense, with the top three times converging within a mere 0.02 seconds of each other. American Ryan Cochran-Siegle clinched third place, while Nils Allègre from France narrowly missed earning only his second career podium finish, finishing just one hundredth of a second behind.
This marked Cochran-Siegle’s third podium appearance, having previously secured a third-place finish at Val Gardena four years ago, and winning the super-G in Bormio shortly thereafter.
“It was an exhilarating skiing experience,” he remarked. “Gardena poses serious challenges for speed. There have been instances where I’ve thought I performed well in my run, only to realize I’m a considerable distance behind once I reach the finish.”
“My focus was on maintaining as much speed as possible. When I ski my best, it’s about simplicity and returning to the basics.”
Last season, Odermatt secured the downhill World Cup title, along with victories in super-G, giant slalom, and the overall championship.
Prior to this event, the only other downhill race this season took place in Beaver Creek, where Odermatt placed second, finishing behind his teammate Justin Murisier.
With this latest victory, Odermatt has extended his lead, now sitting 78 points above Murisier in the downhill rankings and 50 points ahead of Henrik Kristoffersen in the overall standings.
The racing circuit shifts to nearby Alta Badia next, featuring a giant slalom event on Sunday followed by a slalom the following day.
In other news, Lindsey Vonn made her much-anticipated return to World Cup skiing at the age of 40, finishing 14th in a super-G race in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Her comeback efforts continue with another super-G scheduled in St. Moritz tomorrow.