Odermatt wins WC Finals super-G; Cochran-Siegle 4th

Marco Odermatt. Photo: GEPA pictures.

SOLDEU, Andorra — Swiss skier Marco Odermatt won the men’s super-G at the World Cup Finals on Thursday to close in on the 23-year-old record for most points in a single season.

Austrian Marco Schwartz has skied well in all events this season and by finishing second In the last super-G of the season, he earned his first-ever super-G podium. Completing the podium is this season’s dominant downhill champion and two-time season (2016 and 2022) super-G champion, Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde.

The victory raised Odermatt’s tally to 1,942 points, leaving him 58 short of the all-time mark set by Austrian great Hermann Maier in the 1999-2000 season.

Odermatt, a two-time overall champion, had already locked up the season title in super-G by winning five of the previous seven races. By beating Austrian Marco Schwarz by (+0.29) seconds, he added his sixth 2023 triumph in the discipline, and with his giant slalom victories, his 12th of the season. The incomparable Swiss skier was on the podium in all eight 2022-23 super-G World Cups.

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde finished (+0.71) seconds behind in third, one day after the Norwegian received the globe for being the best downhiller of the season.

Odermatt can break the record of 2,000 points with a top-three finish in Saturday’s giant slalom. He has finished on the podium in all eight giant slalom races he started this season.

“I have achieved everything I wanted this season so I’m going to celebrate today,” said Odermatt, who has secured the overall, super-G and giant slalom season titles. “With what’s left in my tank, I will attack on Saturday. When it happens, then it’s great. If not, then I don’t owe anyone an explanation.”

Theoretically, Odermatt would have another chance in Sunday’s season-ending slalom, but he has never raced in that event on World Cup level.

The overall record, between men and women, is held by Slovenian standout Tina Maze, who gathered 2,414 points when she won the women’s overall title 10 years ago.

North Americans

Taking full advantage of their early start numbers, Stifel US Alpine Team member Ryan Cochran-Siegle and Canadian Jeffrey Read skied with determination and expertise. While starting early was an advantage, they still had to deliver great skiing to earn their results.

Stifel US Alpine Team member Ryan Cochran-Siegle finished (+0.86) seconds behind Odermatt in fourth for his best result of the season. Read finished fifth, which was also his best result of the season.

“I definitely got lucky with the bib draw and tried to do my best to take advantage of that,” said Cochran-Siegle. “I still wanted to ski like my best and I think the result kind of speaks more than my skiing. It’s a challenging sport, but I think that’s what makes it fun. There’s always something to improve on.”

The snow softened, and chemicals were required from the first gate through the finish for the men’s super-G. However, once again, the FIS showed its snow preparation expertise. Even in warm conditions, the races were excellent. However, the unavoidable surface deterioration, especially in sector three, made fast times impossible for the later start numbers.

The men used the same Aliga course as the women did for their super-G earlier in the day.

Results and analysis of the fastest three and the North Americans

Analysis of the fastest three and the North Americans

The Associated Press contributed to this report.