Alpine Skiing: Odermatt's Unstoppable Reign in Giant Slalom Continues
In the heart of Alta Badia, Switzerland's Marco Odermatt once again proved his dominance in the giant slalom, clinching his second consecutive World Cup win only 24 hours after his first triumph in the Dolomites. His victory on Monday left his rivals in the dust, with second-placed Marco Schwarz from Austria trailing an impressive 1.05 seconds behind, while Slovenia's Zan Kranjec clinched third place, 0.17 seconds further behind.
Odermatt's continued success in giant slalom has cemented his status as the undisputed king of the discipline, securing his sixth consecutive victory and finishing on the podium in all 20 of his most recent starts. The Swiss athlete led the giant slalom World Cup standings by a comfortable 92 point margin over Schwarz, leaving the Austrian in his sights but unable to catch up.
Germany's hope in the giant slalom World Cup, Alexander Schmid, put in a satisfactory performance in Slovenia, finishing in twelfth place. Despite his achievements, Schmid is still a significant distance from the top spot in the standings, mainly due to his cruciate ligament rupture earlier in the year.
Although Schmid is unable to improve his position due to his injury, he remains optimistic about his future in the sport. "It was really cool and a good step forward," he summarized on BR television, expressing his goals of breaking into the top ten this winter. "It's definitely going in the right direction. We're still lacking confidence and perhaps conviction too." Schmid aims to gain confidence and conviction through each race, with his next competitive appearance in the giant slalom classic in Adelboden set for the beginning of January.
As the alpine skiing season progresses, athletes will traverse various European territories, with Italy's Alta Badia hosting both seasoned champions like Odermatt and rising stars like Schmid in the giant slalom discipline.
Additional Insights:
- Alexander Schmid's injury happened in December 2024, according to sources[4]. Consequently, he will not participate in any further events, making it impossible for him to improve his position in the giant slalom World Cup standings.
Related Articles:
Further Exploration:
This season, both Italy and Slovenia have showcased strong performances in giant slalom events, with champions like Odermatt and rising stars like Kranjec. Schmid, despite his injury, remains a potential force to be reckoned with in the future, making the discipline a hotbed of exciting competition.
