Odermatt’s first World Cup victory on Swiss soil

All eyes were on the swiss rocket, Marco Odermatt, in today’s giant slalom in Adelboden. Coming into the race, Odermatt had previously won three of four GS races this season. He finished his first run 0.31 seconds ahead of the two-time winner, Alexis Pinturault (FRA), and 0.50 seconds ahead of Filip Zubčić (CRO), who  was second in the last three giant slaloms in Adelboden.

Heading into the second run, with a roaring crowd waiting for him at the finish, Odermatt pushed the limits on the course and took home the victory by 0.48 seconds on Austrian, Manuel Feller.

Starting his first run with bib 11, Feller put in two stellar runs today to claim his third GS podium of the season and his first GS podium in Adelboden. He finished ahead of the Frenchman, Alexis Pinturault, by 0.08 seconds.

It isn’t often that you can compete in a World Cup race on your birthday, let alone in your home nation, but today that was the case for Swiss skier, Justin Murisier. Murisier finished his first run in a joint position with Loic Meillard (SUI), however, put all of his cards on the table in the second run which landed him with a 4th place finish.

Not all racers were as lucky, Luca de Aliprandini (ITA) took a hard hit going through a gate and ended up crashing out. Nonetheless, the first medical reports look positive. Lucas Braathen (NOR) stopped halfway through his first run after feeling some strain on his knee. The first run had a tough course set, which many athletes failed to conquer.

Racing continues tomorrow on the Chuenisbärgli with a slalom at 10:30 CET.