Having not raced a GS World Cup since January 2022 in Adelboden (SUI), athletes were ready to tackle the first GS in Kranjska Gora (SLO). With Marco Odermatt (SUI) and Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) being the only two athletes to have won a GS this season, the rest were eager to claim a victory.
Alexis Pinturault (FRA) has been struggling to find his rhythm this season but was in a prime position to claim his first GS victory since Lenzerheide (SUI) in March of 2021. Completing a strong first run and finishing at the top of the table, he looked to be in good stead for the second run. Unfortunately, the Frenchman bottled his chance in claiming his first victory of the season and finished 11th.
Not having the best race outcome earlier in the week in Flachau (AUT), Kristoffersen was determined to make up for his mistakes and raced hard in today’s GS. Taking some precautions in his first run, he finished in 5th, 0.28 seconds behind Pinturault. In the second run, he laid down an exceptional run which saw him claim his second GS victory of the season and sixth GS World Cup victory.
Winning four out of the six GS races, placing on the podium in the other two, and becoming Olympic GS champion, The Swiss rocket, Marco Odermatt, is having an unbelievable season. His first run seemed a bit rocky where he finished 7th, 0.42 seconds behind the leading pace, but he fought his way back to finish in joint 2nd with Lucas Braathen (NOR). Placing 2nd in today’s race, Odermatt earned enough points to secure his first GS globe, as he currently sits 200 points in front of Kristoffersen with only two races to go.
Braathen came charging down the hill to finish only 0.01 seconds behind Pinturault in his first run. Ready for his second run, he gave it all that he could and finished alongside Odermatt in 2nd place, making it his best result since winning the GS in Soelden (AUT) in 2020.
A second GS race is taking place tomorrow with the first run scheduled to start at 09:30 CET and the second at 12:30. This will be the last opportunity for skiers to qualify for the finals taking place next week.
