Odermatt & Basssino Win Saturday Giant Slaloms

Swiss star Marco Odermatt has again shown that he has no equal in giant slalom, making it two out of two this season with a commanding victory in the French resort of Val d'Isère on Saturday. In the first giant slalom race on the men's World Cup tour since Odermatt won the season opener in Sölden on 23 October, the 25-year-old picked up where he left off, winning by 1.40 seconds over Austria's Manuel Feller, with Slovenia's Zan Kranjec claiming third. The victory was Odermatt's seventh triumph in the last 10 World Cup giant slalom races dating back to the beginning of last season, and his sixth straight podium across three disciplines to open the current campaign. 

"It was a big fight again, I gave it everything," said Odermatt, who won the giant slalom on the Face de Bellevarde piste for the second successive season. "It's probably one of my best races ever, so it's a great victory here."

The Olympic giant slalom champion set up the victory with a scintillating first run on a course set by Swiss coach Helmut Krug, using a clean track with bib No. 2 to open up a 0.45 second gap over Feller. No other racer finished within a second of Odermatt's time. Skiing last in the second run, Odermatt defied the ruts and bumps on the course to increase his lead over Feller at every split and record a decisive victory.

"I took the risk again," Odermatt said of pursuing an aggressive second run despite having time in hand. "The snow was so much better than in the first run. It allowed me to keep pushing."

The defending overall World Cup champion extended his lead in this season's title chase to 140 points over Norway's speed king Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who is not racing in the technical events in Val d'Isère. After two brilliant runs, Feller was delighted with finishing second but like all Odermatt's rivals, he was left to rue the Swiss skier's dominance.

"I was orientating to Marco (on the second run) but he is just in a different league," Feller said. "He's so awesome, it's so easy for him. He is just getting better and better.

"I'm not 100 per cent happy because 1.4 (seconds) is just a big difference to first, but the result is awesome." 

Following a disappointing and cautious first run that left him languishing in 11th place, Olympic giant slalom silver medallist Kranjec put down a second-run charge to make amends and take the provisional lead. He then made himself comfortable in the leader's chair as none of the next eight skiers were able to dislodge him despite their first-run advantage, guaranteeing him a place on the podium.

"The first run I didn't ski on the limit, especially in the middle part — I turned too much, I didn't let the ski go," Kranjec said. "So I know what I need to do in the second run but I didn't know that it would be enough for the podium."

It was — just. Norway's Atle Lie McGrath, who was fourth after the first run, finished only 0.03 seconds behind Kranjec and was eventually knocked off the podium into fourth place. Meanwhile, home favourite Alexis Pinturault, who was born 59km by road from Val d'Isère in Moûtiers, was unable to add to his four World Cup wins on the Face de Bellevarde piste and finished 11th, while teammate Mathieu Faivre came 23rd.

For the Americans In the men’s giant slalom held in Val D’Isére, tough conditions caused a large number of bobbles and DNFs. Stifel U.S. Alpine Team athlete River Radamus made some mistakes in the first run, but still made the top 30 and finished 16th overall.

“I was lucky to get a second run and wanted to push as hard as I could for the second run," said Radamus. "I felt like I gave too much respect on sections, I know I can ski better, so I'm ok with coming out with a 16th place result.” said Radamus.

Brian McLaughlin had a strong finish in 19th place, moving up from bib 39. This is one of his top world cup finishes, and his best result since 2018.

“I'm feeling really good about the result today," said McLaughlin. "It was a tough day, it's always tough here, I just tried to really push the first run and I was really happy with where I came down."  

Rounding out the U.S. men, Tommy Ford did not qualify for a second run.

In Sestriere there was nothing like a little homefield advantage. Marta Bassino (ITA) used a late charge in her second run to take the victory in the Audi FIS World Cup women’s giant slalom at Sestriere. It was a thrilling showing as she took and lost the lead multiple times as she navigated the icy conditions of the course on her second run. The Italian nailed the final sector to claim her first World Cup victory on home soil.

“It was a fight because the slope was really tough, so I feel incredible,” said Bassino.

Bassino, who now leads the giant slalom standings, held second place after the first run and finished with a combined time of 2:28.89, just 0.11 seconds ahead of Sara Hector (SWE). Bassino claimed her sixth career World Cup victory in giant slalom, but this one seemed to mean the most to the 26-year-old.

“I am really emotional. Arriving at the line with the green light in front of the Italians (fans) was really incredible. I know it was hard because the slope was really tough. It was a fight more than a good feeling on my skis but to win here at home is amazing,” said Bassino.

Bassino took second in the first giant slalom race of the season at Killington and will be a force moving forward in the season. bHector also figures to factor in the challenge for the giant slalom crown this season. The Swede skier took third in the first giant slalom race of the season and was the fastest time in the second run in Sestriere.

“I am really, really happy to make another podium in the second race. I think it was a tough race, but I really tried to push and it was good,” said Hector.

Hector needed a strong ski in her second run as she was sixth in the standings after a shaky first go down the course.

“I was a bit nervous in the first run. I feel like I have really good skiing but sometimes when I am feeling that it is tough to go out and push. So, I pushed a little less in the first round so in the second round I thought I would just go for it and push and it worked out very well,” said Hector.

It is the 12th career World Cup podium for Hector, all in her favourite discipline of giant slalom.

 The slalom legend Petra Vlhova (SVK) led the field after the first run but could not put together a solid second to claim another trophy to add to her crowded case.

“For me I was a bit in trouble with my skiing, so I was just fighting in the second run,” said Vlahova.

Vlhova settled for third place, 0.40 seconds off Bassino’s lead pace. The conditions were not easy for the defending slalom champion.

“Today was challenging. It was a tough day and really tough conditions, but I am happy with third place,” said Vlahova.

It is the 60th career World Cup podium for the decorated Vlhova. 

Big names littered the standings behind the podium. Frederica Brignone (ITA) brought the heat with the second-fastest time in the second run as she finished fourth in her home country. Reigning giant slalom world champion Tessa Worley (FRA) came across fifth. Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) was fourth after the first run but could not find clean snow in her second run as she ended up finishing sixth. The American star still leads the overall standings and will look to add to her lead in the slalom at Sestriere on Sunday. Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) won the first giant slalom of the season in Killington but could not repeat her performance as she finished seventh.

 It was a strong day for the U.S. Alpine Team women with Mikaela Shiffrin finishing sixth and Paula Moltzan scoring eighth place in the Sestriere giant slalom Saturday. It was Moltzan's career-best giant slalom finish. Moltzan ran bib 20, landing in 10th after the first run. “After the first run, I was pretty excited with how I skied," said Moltzan. "I didn't know that crossing the finish line I'd sit in 10th, but I was happy with the clean skiing I put down and I was just excited to get a second run and push as hard as I could." Moltzan skied into first when she came down after her second run and ultimately moved up two spots to eighth place.

“I'm really excited about it. It's going to hopefully be the first step of many this season,” said Moltzan. 

Stella Johansson started her first career World Cup, but did not qualify for a second run. Nina O'Brien also did not qualify. Katie Hensien, AJ Hurt, Ava Sunshine and Allie Resnick did not finish first run.