Odermatt secures fourth consecutive Overall and Giant Slalom Globes as Swiss sweep podium again

Marco Odermatt (SUI/Stöckli) has won his fourth consecutive Giant Slalom and Overall Crystal Globes after finishing second behind team-mate Loic Meillard (SUI/Rossignol) in Hafjell on Saturday.

Odermatt's closest rival for the Giant Slalom Globe, Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR/Van Deer), had hoped to push the race for the title to the final stop of the tour in Sun Valley later this month, but he and his team-mates all struggled to take advantage of home snow in what was a disappointing day for Norway's skiers.

Kristoffersen ultimately finished 16th after a poor set of runs, which meant Odermatt had the luxury of being able to ski conservatively in his second run in order to ensure he finished without incident and take advantage of his rival's slip-up.

However, that is not the Odermatt way. The Stöckli athlete went through the course with his trademark aggression and quick rhythm to put down a time of 2:18.34 that put him top with just two athletes remaining.

Both of them were his team-mates, and both would join him on the podium. Penultimate skier Thomas Tumler (SUI/Stöckli) struggled slightly at the top which cost him precious time as he finished 0.09 seconds behind Odermatt to go second at the time.

Loic Meillard (SUI/Rossignol) was the last man out, and skied with similar aggression to his team-mates for a time of 2:18.20 to take the victory and ensure that the Swiss once again swept an Alpine podium in what has been a hugely successful season for the men in red.

Odermatt is now on 500 points in the Giant Slalom standings, with Kristoffersen on 394 - a difference too big for the Norwegian to overhaul with only 100 points left on offer this season in Sun Valley. Odermatt also cannot be caught in the Overall, and also leads the way in the Downhill and Super G standings as he continues his dominance of the sport.

"I just won my fourth Globe in a row in GS, so that was definitely something I can be happy about and not be sad about the second place," the Alpine legend said.

"I'm very happy with the race. I struggled a little bit with my GS skiing, how I did the last couple of weeks. I couldn't find the same flow as I had last year.

"So I'm still very proud that I managed race by race, run by run, to be in this top position and fight for the victories.

"To push yourself over and over and over again in a long season is very tough, so I'm happy that this very successful Norway trip for me is over and now just a cool final week in Sun Valley."

For Meillard, who had an exceptional World Championships in Saalbach last month, Saturday's victory was his first one in the Giant Slalom World Cup this season, having been on the podium once before when he finished second in Adelboden in January.

"I felt good," the Rossignol skier said. "I knew what to do, I knew on what to focus and I know also that it's a slope where you have to work all the time.

"A simple mistake can cost a lot so I just tried to give it all, tried to always do the same movement with the right technique and it paid off."

It was the third time this season that the Swiss men swept an Audi FIS Alpine World Cup podium, but the first time it has been achieved in Giant Slalom after doing it in the Downhill in Crans Montana in February and in Kvitfjell earlier this month.

"Marco won a few, Tumler won one - we've all had a pretty good season," Meillard said. "Everyone is in form and it just paid off today, we worked all together perfectly."

Alexander Steen Olsen (NOR/Rossignol) was Norway's top performer on home snow, finishing fifth - one place behind former team-mate Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA/Atomic) who narrowly missed out on a third Giant Slalom World Cup podium of the season. Kristoffersen's 16th place was next best for the Norwegians, who will be hoping for better luck in the Slalom race on Sunday.

For Tumler, it was a second World Cup podium of the season, having won in Beaver Creek at the end of last year.

"It's really cool to share the podium with my two Swiss friends," Tumler said. "The conditions were the best of the year."

Saalbach 2025 saw plenty of medals for the Swiss men, who shaved their hair in a trademark celebration, but Tumler said there would be no such antics after he and his team-mates enjoyed another successful outing in the World Cup.

"For me, no. Sure, we'll drink a beer in the airport but the hair we'll leave it how it is," he said.