Odermatt: fastest, McLaughlin best North American in first run of Val d’Isére GS

Photo: Odermatt. GEPA pictures.

It didn’t take long to know who would win the first run of the Val d’Isere GS. Marco Odermatt ran with bib two but skied like few ever have. He crossed with a time no one could match.

Austria’s Manuel Feller skied immediately after Odermatt and showed he could match the world number one but only in sections. Feller finished in 2nd 0.45 seconds back. However, you could see he would not threaten Odermatt. 

The top seven are the world’s best and as one after another raced, the skiing was impressive, but no one had an answer for the Swiss phenom. However, Alexander Schmid, the talented German who finished sixth a year ago in Val d’lsere, came out of the second group of eight to finish the first run in third, 1.19 seconds behind Odermatt. 

Bib eight through 15 are undoubtedly elite, but they quickly showed that they cannot match the world’s best. By the time the first 15 had finished, the time difference between the first and 13th was 3.21 seconds.

US’s River Radamus raced with bib eight and fought to the finish but finished 3.04 seconds behind the leader. Unfortunately, his teammate Tommy Ford, who won the second run in Sölden, experienced more significant challenges and finished 7.36 off the fastest time. Radamus finished the first run 24th.

Opportunity for higher bib numbers

The good news for all the racers trying to qualify for the second run is that the surface prepared with a week of work was excellent. As racers descended, It was easy to hear the ice under the skis. That reality opened the door for athletes with higher bib numbers who are skiing well. The very talented Norwegian Atle McGrath, running with bib 16, did just that and finished in fourth 1.32 back. 

Following the TV break after the top 30, the visibility advantage that can happen in Val d’lsere materialized, providing clear skies and more sun for later bibs. That meant the racers who are skiing well have a better-than-usual opportunity to qualify. The disadvantage of the surface deteriorating is offset by good visibility.

One of the racers ready to take advantage was US athlete Brian McLaughlin. McLaughlin attacked the problematic hill and found himself well inside the qualifying time in 13th. This represented the best first run of McLaughlin’s career and the first time he qualified for the second run in France.

McLaughlin completed the first run the fastest of the four North Americans who qualified for the second run and joined six other athletes with bibs higher than 30 to qualify.

Two Canadians Erik Read 22nd and Trevor Philp 27th also qualified for the second run.

Analysis of the top three and North Americans qualified for the second run

First run top 30 results

Top 30 after the first run December 10th Val d’lsere GS