Beijing 2022: Men’s GS preview
Feb 12, 2022·Alpine Skiing
Heading into the first men’s tech race, all eyes are on the Swiss rocket, Marco Odermatt. Completely dominating the GS World Cup season so far, Odermatt has won four out of the five GS races and placed 2nd in the fifth race. Leading the GS World Cup standings by 219 points, and only one victory away from claiming the GS World Cup Crystal Globe, who could challenge Odermatt to his claim to the GS Olympic gold?
Manuel Feller (AUT) will be one of the racers with the highest hopes to beat Odermatt and claim gold. Feller is currently second in the GS World Cup standings, however, has not yet won a GS World Cup race this season. He has placed three times on the GS podium with two 3rd place finishes and one 2nd finish. The Austrian is known to push himself to the limit, which might be needed tomorrow to win.
2018 GS silver medalist, Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) will also be gunning for the title. In GS, the Norwegian has already claimed the GS Crystal Globe and World Champion title, however, has yet to win the GS at the Olympics. Being the only racer to have won a GS race this season, other than Odermatt, will Kristoffersen have it in him to claim his first Olympic gold medal?
Alexis Pinturault (FRA), is not uncustomed to standing on the GS podium at the Olympics. Both in 2014 and in 2018, the Frenchman placed 3rd in the GS race, so he will still be chasing that 1st place. Throughout the GS season, Pinturault has had a wide range of results. His best finish was 2nd in Val d'Isère (FRA), followed by a 3rd place finish in Adelboden (SUI). However, he also placed 15th and 18th in the two GS races in Alta Badia (ITA). Nonetheless, Pinturault’s Olympic knowledge and experience will surely play in his favour in tomorrow’s race.
French compatriot, Mathieu Faivre (FRA), will also be giving it his all to claim the gold medal. Having finished three times in the top-10 so far this season, the current GS World Champion has yet to have a GS podium finish. Faivre’s best GS result this season was 5th which he took in Adelboden.
Finishing in the top-10 of all of his races so far this season but one, Luca de Aliprandini (ITA), will be eager to stand at the top of the podium after tomorrow’s race. The Italian has already claimed a 2nd place finish this season after his strong performance in Alta Badia and placed 2nd in the GS at the 2021 World Championships.
The first run is scheduled to start tomorrow, Sunday 13th, at 10: 15 local time / 03:15 CET and the second run is scheduled to start at 13:45 local time / 06:45 CET.
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