Adelboden GS podium Kilde, Odermatt, Zubcic GEPA /Mario Buehner-Weinrauchl

Ski fans once again witnessed the seemingly impossible. Marco Odermatt is simply the best. After delivering a masterpiece in the morning he skis last in the finale to take his third consecutive Adelboden GS victory. Odermatt matches the Adelboden GS win record held by Ingemar Stenmark and Herman Maier. He is also a perfect four-for-four during the season. Needless to say, the enormous Swiss crowd who came to see their champion erupted into a deafening ovation while he raced and crossed the finish.

“It was amazing; it was obviously not an easy, nice race today,” Odermat said. “Always at home here in Adelboden, a victory feels super sweet,”

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde placed 2nd (+1.26), earning his career fifth GS top five, but it is his first podium. While it is no surprise to see Croatian Filip Zubcic on the third step of the podium it is very exciting to see Stifel US Ski Team member River Radamus deliver his career best in 4th place.

Being in this position, I just wanted to take the opportunity and I felt like I did that,” said Kilde. “Of course, Odermatt is in a different league, but this is definitely a victory for me.”

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Odermatt simply sees the course better than anyone else and has unmatched GS skills that allow him to execute in a way no one else can copy. The 26-year-old has now earned 18 World Cup GS victories.

Skiing for second place

The first of the final three to ski the final run was Kilde, and after delivering an amazing run, he earned a significant (-0.51) lead over the then-leader Zubcic. Austrian Patrick Feurstein, who was second after the first run, struggled in the finale and ended the day in 18th. That is when Zubcic knew he had moved up 9 spots from 12th to the podium and Kilde knew he would stand on the second step. Why did they know that with one racer still remaining? Because the world’s best, Odermatt, was in the start with a big lead and it was inconceivable he would give it up. He didn’t.

Great day for Radamus

The lead was constantly changing during the first ten racers to ski the second run. But then, the first Stifel US Ski Team member to ski, Radamus, took control of the leader’s chair with a (-0.54) lead over Switzerland’s Justin Murisier. After delivering his best run of the season, he started his climb up the leaderboard. He was able to stay in the lead for the next seven racers. Until Croatian star, 3rd place Zubcic, earned the lead. Ranked 20th after the first run, Radamus delivered the fastest second run and climbed 16 positions to finish in 4th place.

After the race, Radamus said, “It’s a weird sport, and it’s hard not to be disappointed, but you got to keep it all in perspective. I think that on the first run, I was really disappointed with my performance and didn’t put my best foot forward. So second run I wanted to ski more fearlessly, push the limit and see what was possible. That was some real skiing and I’m proud of that, and I’m hoping to carry that forward and do it in two runs, and then I have a chance at the podium.”

The other Stifel US Ski Team member competing in the finale, Tommy Ford, could not match Radamus’s second run but did ski well and moved up one position to finish the day in 17th place.

“It’s always good to cross the finish area and to celebrate with the crowd here should be a great sensation.” Ford said, “Absolutely. This is one of the most famous races on the circuit. It’s a special place.”

The other big second run moves were delivered by Denmarks Christian Borgnaes, who moved up 11 positions to finish 14th. Also, home country skier Swiss Justin Murisier could move up ten positions to finish the day in 13th.

The massive home crowd came to see the magnificent skiing of Marco Odermatt, and once again, he delivered. Other than his massive margin, considering the shortened length of the course, the race was very tight. Also, notably, the Norwegians had four racers in the top seven.

Adelboden GS results and analysis of the fastest three and North Americans among the top 30.

Analysis of the fastest three and top 30 North Americans