Meillard beats Caviezel for Swiss GS 1-2; Odermatt rests

SCHLADMING,AUSTRIA,25.JAN.23. Loic Meillard. Photo: GEPA pictures

SCHLADMING, Austria — Loïc Meillard beat his teammate Gino Caviezel to lead a Swiss 1-2 finish at a floodlit World Cup night giant slalom Wednesday.

Switzerland finished the race first and second, securing Loic Meillard’s first World Cup GS victory. Meillard has six previous GS podiums, but his one World Cup victory came in Parallel Giant Slalom. Today he stood on the podium next to his teammate and friend, Gino Caviezel, second place (+0.59).

The pair stepped in to give the Swiss ski team a victory despite the absence of its standout performer, Marco Odermatt, who had won four of the five giant slaloms this season but sat out the race to rest a sore knee.

Both skiers held their positions from the first run, as Meillard beat Caviezel by 0.59 seconds.

“I was pretty calm. I had led after a first run a couple times before, so I know how it feels and what I had to do,” Meillard said. “My skiing was good in the first run so I wanted to show that again in the second.”

Having an Austrian on a Schladming podium is fitting. Fortunately for Austria, their fans can enjoy Marco Schwarz’s third place. Schwarz was 14th after the first run but delivered the fastest final run to move up 11 positions and onto the podium. For the third Austrian race in a row, his close friend Manuel Feller finished the first run in contention for a victory, only to fall short during his final run. Tonight he lost control and missed a gate.

Although the Norwegian team missed the podium, they had much to celebrate. Lucas Braathen and Atle Lie McGrath are the young stars of the World Cup, but they will have to make room for Alexander Steen Olsen. The 21-year-old started the night with bib 34 and finished in fourth.

Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen, who was third after the opening run, dropped to fifth.

“It was pretty good, for sure,” said Meillard, who finished fifth in a night slalom on the same hill Tuesday.

“Difficult to get in the rhythm; yesterday evening it was late. But I felt good. I like the snow, and I like the slope, so it’s pretty cool.”

“It’s amazing, the first victory for me. To share the first podium with Gino is incredible. That makes it even double enjoyable,” Meillard said.

The Schladming Planai race slope was shiny – it looked like a sheet of glass. The best in the world prefer it that way. Their equipment is designed to perform its best on these surfaces and their bodies are trained for the forces. The skiing that was on display during the second run was inspirational. It looked like they were on long ice skates going 50 mph. The race was impressive. If you couldn’t watch it live, the replay is worth a watch. This was a GS to remember.

The first US athlete to attack the second course was independent Global Racing athlete Brian McLaughlin. McLaughlin’s skiing is improving and he likes the icy conditions. He made a significant mistake in the third sector that cost him considerable time, but he crossed into the lead. He started with bib 42, and tonight, he showed his best skiing, finishing the race in 23rd.

“I think they should do more of these; the crowd is really great. I think the atmosphere is amazing,” said McLaughlin.

The next American to ski was Stifel US Alpine Team member Tommy Ford. Ford is a world-class ski racer and World Cup GS winner. Tonight during the second run, he was unable to find his speed. He finished the evening 24th.

Like Ford, the USA’s best-ranked GS skier River Radamus struggled. Radamus had challenges on the first run but was in 12th place, close enough for an outside chance for his first podium. Like Ford, he also struggled to find his rhythm in the second course and ended the race in 21st. Ultimately, the US didn’t have any podiums but they did have three athletes in the points.

Notably, Italian Hannes Zingerle, who qualified with bib 58, ended the race in 14th. He moved up 12 positions on the second run.

Analysis of the fastest three, Radamus, McLaughlin, Ford and results.

Results for the Schladming January 25th night GS

The Associated Press contributed to this report.