Odermatt Wins Debut World Cup Downhill
In a world that is running out of superlatives for Marco Odermatt (SUI), the Swiss ski genius keeps hitting new heights. The day's winner was Swiss phenom Marco Odermatt, he also took his first ever downhill World Cup win. Second place went to french skier Cyprien Sarrazin and in third place was Aleksander Aamodt Kilde of Norway.
On home snow, down the legendary Wengen piste, Odermatt won his first Audi FIS World Cup downhill title, ticking off one of the few achievements he had left on his to-do list. Thursday’s downhill was a make-up race from the previously canceled Birds of Prey speed event. The weather could not have been more perfect for the downhillers, a picture perfect blue bird day in Wengen. Course crews watered portions of the hill overnight making the track conditions strong and ample opportunities for the racers to push hard.
His triumph, a whopping +0.58 seconds ahead of the ever-improving Frenchman Cyprien Sarrazin (FRA) in second, and +0.81 seconds in front of a slightly sick Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR) in third, is ominous for the rest of the field.
Odermatt is leader in the Crystal Globe standings for the overall, downhill, super-G and giant slalom. This result indicates that he can still improve on the near-perfect. Stay fit and the Swiss superstar might even somehow surpass last season’s record-breaking points tally.
Odermatt’s triumph has been a long time coming. He is already downhill world champion. He had recorded 11 World Cup downhill podiums without winning one.
Entering the race in supreme form, it all came together. Odermatt was remarkably fast in the steep section at the top, used his super-G turns lower down the course cleverly, and seemed glued into his tuck throughout. The demonstration of skill sent the local crowd crazy.
“To cross the finish line after Kilde, with eight tenths ahead, it was a good run, the feeling was perfect,” he said. “I took a lot of risk and it worked out, so I knew it was going to be difficult to beat.
“It was a similar feeling to Bormio, but that wasn’t enough against Sarrazin. So I was a bit nervous when he skied. He was fast again."
The victory means Odermatt is the first male skier to win a giant slalom, a super-G and a downhill World Cup event in a single season since his compatriot Didier Cuche (SUI) in 2009/10.
He is bullish heading into two more races this weekend. “My confidence couldn’t be better, material is working perfect, and I’m ready for the two difficult races.”
Cyprien Sarrazin, who won his first ever downhill title on 28 December in Bormio, was the only man who looked capable of catching Odermatt.
Sarrazin crashed horribly in Wengen last season, burning his face while colliding with the barriers, but this year he was smooth in every section.
For the Frenchman, it was a confidence booster, a reassurance that his recent triumph was not a fluke.
“I am really satisfied, really happy, I’m between two big guys,” he said.
“I lived my Bormio win 100%, really enjoyed the moment and celebrated.
“Now I realise I can do it, I want to do it again. I’ve just arrived in the world of downhill. I need to accept my rank among the best, try to prove myself, and build myself up.
“After Bormio I was not so certain to do that again. Today is not perfect like Bormio, but it was a good run.”
He had to acknowledge Odermatt’s supremacy, however.
“Odi did a perfect run,” he said. “Five tenths [ahead] – I don’t have five more tenths on my boots. Maybe two tenths. It is satisfaction for me to ski like this again.
“I really enjoyed it, it’s perfect, but Odi was the best. To be ahead of Kilde is a victory for me. I will keep my mood [for the next races].”
Kilde, last season’s downhill champion, continued his defence of the title while suffering with a minor illness. Despite being sapped of energy, he looked excellent down this piste apart from a minor error mid-course.
“I woke up this morning and I didn’t feel like a million dollars,” said Kilde. “It was a fun race, good weather, I like Wengen. But it was hard for me to really work with the jumps.
"You’ve got to bring it the next day, so hopefully I feel a little better tomorrow. But I’m always happy with the podium, especially with Sarrazin and Odermatt.
“I’ve not had the same start, it feels like there are more people fighting for victory than last year.”
U.S. Ski Team athlete Ryan Cochran-Siegle scored a sixth place finish, his best result of the season thus far.
“I feel like that was the most solid run I’ve had on the course this week,” said Cochran-Siegle.
Thursday’s downhill was a make-up race from the previously canceled Birds of Prey speed event. The weather could not have been more perfect for the downhillers, a picture perfect blue bird day in Wengen. Course crews watered portions of the hill overnight making the track conditions strong and ample opportunities for the racers to push hard.
First to start on the Stifel U.S. Ski Team was Bryce Bennett running second. Bennett had top splits up until the final turn where he took a different line and lost quite a bit of speed. This knocked Bennett’s time up a few tenths and ended up in 16th place. Cochran-Siegle ran next for the team in bib 16. He skied fast, clean and confident through the finish into the sixth position.
“It’s about finding the speed so rather than trying to ski perfectly I was trying to find speed so I am happy to have done that,” said Cochran-Siegle. “You really have to give it all you got on this track.”
The Wengen downhill is widely considered a “classic” due to its history, length and very unique elements. This includes a spot in the course where racers go under a train crossing, very narrow portions of the track and more. The hill is a good one for the American men as it provides every element of downhill; flats, to big jumps and big turns, all areas of the discipline where the Stifel U.S. Ski Team men can exceed.
Sam Morse made it into the points in 30th place as well. Kyle Negomir landed in 46th and Wiley Maple in 55th. River Radamus and Jared Goldberg did not finish
