Manuel Feller, GEPA pictures/ Wolfgang Grebien

The big surprise of the evening came when Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt crossed the finish without the lead. Notably, Odermatt has won all the GS races this season. Although he was fast in the first and last sectors, the superstar finds himself the 11th fastest (+0.98) behind Austrian star Manuel Feller. It will take an Odermatt miracle to find his way to the podium but Odermatt miracles are ordinary. It is likely, however, that the fatigue of the recent speed event demands could have negatively affected his performance. He might be human, after all.

To the delight of the 40,000+ spectators, Feller bib eight delivered excellence. He takes a (-0.10) advantage into the final run. There is nothing in the sport like the roaring Schladming night crowd when an Austrian does well. It sends shivers up your spine and Feller’s reception in the finish was fantastic.

Many are in contention

Last year’s winner, Switzerland’s Loic Meillard, delivered the second-fastest time. The Norwegian superstar Henrik Kristoffersen seems to have made friends with his Red Bull boots and is ranked third, finishing the first run (+0.19) back.

However, there are eleven racers within a second of Feller. Nevertheless, the Planai night course is short, meaning the time differentials are closer than usual. Anyway, within a second, all the racers will have a reasonable opportunity to stand on the podium at the end of the evening. Regardless, there are six racers within half a second of the leading Austrian, and they are likely the ones who will celebrate at the end of the race.

When the first racer, Croatia’s Filip Zubcic (+0.39), skied the course, it was apparent that fans were in for a fantastic evening of performance. The race surface looked scary; it was icy, shiny, and polished, but the conditions were ideal. The daytime temperatures had warmed the ice and it was clearly in the range of hardness that World Cup skiers love. The skiing and atmosphere were exceptional.

Qualified North Americans

Stifel US Ski Team’s River Radamus skied well on the first run and found himself 12th after the first run. He will ski the second run immediately before Odermatt and was only (+1.07) behind the leader, Feller. It will take his best skiing but expect to witness Radamus gain positions during the second run.

The other two North Americans to earn their ticket to the evening’s finale are Radamus’s teammate Tommy Ford, 27th (+2.19), and Canadian veteran Erik Read, 30th (+2.52). Both men will have excellent starting positions for the second run and good skiing will be rewarded.

High bib success

Five racers with start numbers above 30 could qualify for the final run. The fastest was bib 50 Norwegian Timon Haugan 16th (+1.29). The highest start number of that group to qualify was Spain’s Albert Ortega bib 67 29th (+2.50). The time differential between the fastest and thirtieth was (+2.52). Notably, only six racers did not finish the first course.

The unexpected twists and turns add to the excitement of the thrilling world of alpine skiing. The anticipation is palpable as the racers gear up for the final run. From the surprising performance of Odermatt to the stellar run by Feller, the stage is set for a night of unforgettable moments on the Planai night course. With multiple contenders within a second of the leader, the podium remains anyone’s claim. As the crowd eagerly awaits the conclusion, one thing is sure – the magic of alpine skiing continues to captivate fans around the globe.

Top thirty first run results and analysis of the fastest three and top 30 North Americans

Click on images to enlarge.

Analysis of the fastest three and top 30 North Americans