Can anyone upset the men’s big speed beasts in Courchevel Meribel?

Feb 05, 2023·Alpine Skiing

Kilde, Odermatt and Kriechmayr finished 1-2-3 in last season super-G standings (Agence Zoom)

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, Marco Odermatt and Vincent Kriechmayr.

Every statistic, from form to course familiarity via past major event success, not only suggests but screams the fact that these three will occupy all six podium places in the men’s speed events at the 2023 FIS Alpine Ski World Championships in Courchevel Meribel.

But Alpine skiing has shown again and again that it does not care much for mere numbers.

So, while these three big beasts of speed skiing are hard to look past, there are a host of proven past performers, rapidly emerging stars and, if history is to be listened to, several far less familiar names ready to upset the formbook and grab some glory on the biggest stage of all.

With the men’s super-G taking place on 9 February at 11:30 local time, the downhill following on 12 February at 11:00 and the Alpine combined kicking everything off on 7 February at 11:00, here are our bets for success.

The Big Three

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR)

2023 World Cup DH: 5 wins, 1 podium
2023 World Cup SG: 2 wins, 2 podiums
World Championship: 2021 DH: 4th
Olympic Games: 2022 AC: 2nd, SG: 3rd, DH: 5th

The mid-season retirement of serial major championship speed kings, Matthias Mayer and Beat Feuz, has only added to the feeling that this is the time for ever-smiling Viking to claim a big title or two. Although Beijing 2022 did not quite deliver the Olympic gold Kilde craves, he did prove he can do it when it matters. A repeat in the Combined would be a big surprise though.

Marco Odermatt (SUI)

2023 World Cup DH: 4 podiums
2023 World Cup SG: 4 wins, 2 podiums
World Championships: 2017 SG & AC: 4th
Olympic Games: 2022 DH: 7th

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Comfortably clear at the top of the overall season standings, Odermatt is rapidly turning himself into one of the all-time greats. Almost untouchable in super-G, the Swiss man is a huge favourite to claim his first World Championship titles. The fact the Combined features an SG race only plays further into the 25-year-old’s hands. Could he even choose now to finally win an elite DH?

Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT)

2023 World Cup DH: 3 wins
2023 World Cup SG: 1 podium, 4x top-5
World Championship: 2021 DH & SG: 1st; 2019 SG: 2nd, 2019 DH: 3rd
Olympic Games: 2022 SG: 5th; 2018 SG: 6th

Unlike his storied rivals, Kriechmayr knows exactly what World Championship success feels like. He has great form in Courchevel Meribel too having won both speed races at the World Cup finals 11 months ago – with Odermatt twice relegated to second.

Ones to Watch

James Crawford (CAN)

2023 World Cup DH: 2 podiums
2023 World Cup SG: 2x top 10
World Championship: 2021 AC: 4th
Olympic Games: 2022 AC: 3rd, DH: 4th, SG: 6th

While not quite hitting the heights recently that the 25-year-old showed in his breakout 2022 season, Crawford remains a good bet to bring home Canada’s first men’s World Championship silverware since Eric Guay in 2017.

Mattia Casse (ITA)

2023 World Cup DH: 2 podiums
2023 World Cup SG: 1 podium

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The 32-year-old Italian appears to be coming good at just the right time. After making his first World Cup start back in 2009, all three of Casse’s podium places have come this season.

Marco Schwarz (AUT)