Odermatt Wins Fourth Consecutive Adelboden Giant Slalom

Marco Odermatt (SUI/Stöckli) claimed his fourth consecutive Giant Slalom race on the Adelboden course on Sunday, as the Swiss skiers gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about under sunny conditions.

The last time Odermatt failed to stand on the top of the podium at Adelboden was in 2021, when he finished fourth, and on Sunday he was back to his expected best in Switzerland.

He was third fastest after the first run, before holding on impressively in a second run that contained several uncharacteristic mistakes after a shadow had enveloped parts of the slope to threaten the last skiers on the course.

However, as he so often does, Odermatt recovered from his mistakes to record a time of 2:27.55 to give him his third Giant Slalom World Cup win in a row this season, and get him to within one victory of matching Ingemar Stenmark's record of five wins in Adelboden.

"Every year it's incredible to win here. The crowd, the fans, they are so loud, it's so nice to ski here," the Stöckli skier said."The second run was perfect for me, a little bit more speed. You could let the skis go and this is what I like. I took more risks, and that was a problem in the first run - I didn't feel so good from the setup to risk it."

The 27-year-old managed to take top spot from surprise package Luca De Aliprandini (ITA/Salomon), who was 12th fastest on the first run - 1.40 seconds behind the benchmark - before a scintillating second run leapfrogged the Italian all the way to the hot seat, where he remained until Odermatt's second appearance.

Only two skiers remained after Odermatt's second run, with Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR/Van Deer Racing) recording a DNF following an early mistake - capping off a forgettable weekend for McGrath, who also failed to finish in Saturday's Slalom.

Odermatt's compatriot Loic Meillard (SUI/Rossignol) then came agonisingly close to dethroning his team-mate, but ultimately finished two tenths of a second behind Odermatt to claim second place and consign De Aliprandini to third (+0.69).

"There were a little bit less emotions today," Odermatt said. "When you ski against a team-mate, against Loic, you don't have the same emotion. He would have wanted this win also a lot, but just one can win and for me, I'm happy that it was me today."

Wearing the number one bib, Meillard was the first and last athlete on the course on Sunday, and though he was disappointed to miss out on top spot, the 28-year-old was delighted with a strong finish after his DNF on the same course in Slalom the day before.

"Happy, definitely, but definitely also a bit... yeah, when you see two-tenths and you know where you lost it, you think okay it could have been better. But at the end, when I look back at where I've come in GS this season, plus yesterday in Slalom, it's definitely a good performance."

The hometown hero suffered his DNF on Saturday as he came into view of the crowd at the top of the pitch, but this time was able to make it to the bottom in what proved an emotional second run.

"Adelboden is always special, as an athlete in general, but I think as a Swiss athlete it's something we can't describe," the Rossignol skier said. Going up to start my second run I had tears in my eyes when I looked down and I was like, wow, how lucky are we to race here today and to enjoy that crowd. So I tried to do my best in second run to enjoy it."

For De Aliprandini, third place came via an extraordinary second run, but he was left to rue one minor mistake early in the first run which ultimately cost him first place.

"The first run I made a mistake right after the start, and then I think for the rest, it was everything perfect. And the second run, it was... I don't know what to say. From start to finish, almost perfect - especially the last deep part. I know if I do two runs without mistakes, I can be really fast. And I think today I showed it - not 100% but 99% except one gate. I'm really happy with how my skiing is right now and for the result today."

The Italian echoed Meillard's feelings on the Adelboden crowd: "Incredible. Being back on the podium here in Adelboden is amazing. I love Adelboden, it's my favorite race."

It was not the favorite race of Atle Lie McGrath (NOR/Head), who joined Norway team-mate Kristoffersen in crashing out of the second run despite being in the top five after the first. Thomas Tumler (SUI/Stöckli), meanwhile, could not match his slick first run with a second, but still managed to finish fourth to leave De Aliprandini as the only non-Swiss athlete in the top four.

It all means that Odermatt (300) has increased his lead over Kristoffersen (199) in the Giant Slalom to over 100 points, with Alexander Steen Olsen (NOR/Rossignol) in third place on 189 points after five out of the nine total races.