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Odermatt controls Kitzbühel super-G as late bibs light up the Streif
Marco Odermatt delivered a commanding performance Thursday in Kitzbühel, winning the men’s World Cup super-G and tightening his grip on the discipline during one of the sport’s most unforgiving race weeks.
The Swiss star stopped the clock in 1:08.41 to claim his 17th career World Cup super-G victory and the 99th podium of his career, edging teammate Franjo von Allmen by just 0.03 seconds. Austria’s Stefan Babinsky completed the podium in third, igniting a roaring home crowd.
Kitzbühel men’s super-G — Top Five
- 1st — 🇨🇭 Marco Odermatt (SUI) — 1997 — Stöckli — 1:08.41
- 2nd — 🇨🇭 Franjo von Allmen (SUI) — 2001 — HEAD — +0.03
- 3rd — 🇦🇹 Stefan Babinsky (AUT) — 1996 — Atomic — +0.25
- 4th — 🇦🇹 Raphael Haaser (AUT) — 1997 — Atomic — +0.33
- 5th — 🇳🇴 Adrian Smiseth Sejersted (NOR) — 1994 — Atomic — +0.36
Sejersted’s fifth-place finish stood out by breaking up a Swiss–Austrian block inside the top six, underscoring the depth and danger of a super-G course that demanded full commitment from the opening gate.
Odermatt said his experience from last season helped him manage the moment better this time around.
“I learned a lot from last year,” Odermatt said. “I was overwhelmed a bit back then because winning here was such a big dream. This year I knew how to deal with it and save energy. Hopefully that helps me be even more ready tomorrow.”
The victory marked Odermatt’s second career super-G win in Kitzbühel. While he owns three downhill podiums on the Streif, the one prize missing from his résumé remains the downhill victory — a fact not lost on anyone heading into Saturday.
Swiss dominance at the top
Switzerland once again set the standard in Kitzbühel, locking out the top two positions as Franjo von Allmen pushed his teammate to the limit. Von Allmen was aggressive from the start and exceptionally clean through the lower sections, but came up just three hundredths short as Odermatt delivered where it mattered most.
“No, it was not the perfect run — Marco was faster by a couple of hundredths,” von Allmen said. “But it was a good run, a solid run, a pretty safe run, so I’m happy with it.”
The result marked von Allmen’s sixth career World Cup super-G podium and underscored Switzerland’s growing depth in the speed disciplines during the Olympic season.
Babinsky delivers on home snow
Stefan Babinsky gave the Austrian crowd plenty to celebrate, skiing onto the podium in front of tens of thousands of fans lining the Streifalm. The 29-year-old followed up his breakthrough result at Wengen with another composed and committed run, earning the second World Cup super-G podium of his career — both coming in the past two weekends.
“It feels great,” Babinsky said. “I tried to come into today focused on myself and my plan. It was a good run.” He acknowledged how fine the margins were on a demanding day. “I had a small mistake at the very end, but the rest was very good. I had a good feeling and I was able to push from the start.”
North American snapshot — Canada leads, U.S. answers late
🇨🇦 CAN — Top 30 Finishers
- 🇨🇦 Cameron Alexander — Bib 21 — YOB 1997 — 11th (+0.62) — no partner
- 🇨🇦 James Crawford — Bib 5 — YOB 1997 — three way tie 21st (+0.94) — Atomic
- 🇨🇦 Riley Seger — Bib 37 — YOB 1998 — 28th (+1.08) — Atomic
Canada’s Cameron Alexander led the North American contingent, charging into 11th place with bib 21 and continuing his steady return to form following last season’s injury.
James Crawford finished 21st, while Riley Seger delivered Canada’s strongest late-bib performances in 28th, just 1.08 seconds off the lead.
🇺🇸 USA — Top 30 Finishers
- 🇺🇸 Sam Morse — Bib 50 — YOB 1994 — 18th (+0.87) — Toko
- 🇺🇸 Kyle Negomir — Bib 29 — YOB 1996 — 26th (+1.05) — Atomic
For the United States, the headline came late.
Starting in fading light with bib 50, Sam Morse, who will make his Olympic debut in Bormio, produced one of the runs of the day, surging into 18th place and crossing the finish screaming with joy as he realized what he had done.
“Starting 50 and punching it into the top 20 is an epic day,” Morse said. “There was no place to back off — you had to hammer top to bottom, take risks, and just keep rolling with it. To find that little bit extra speed was super special.”
Kyle Negomir, skiing with bib 29, delivered a solid and controlled run into 26th, the top U.S. result before Morse’s late charge. The performance continues a breakout season for Negomir, who has earned his first Olympic selection through consistent speed in both super-G and downhill.
“It’s a bluebird day in Kitzbühel — the best race of the year,” Negomir said. “The hill was in perfect condition. Super-G is really fun to ski here, but everyone knows the downhill is the big show.”
High-bib impact — late starters shine on a darkening course
As the light faded and visibility became more challenging, many racers starting bib 31 or higher delivered exceptional results — a testament to both confidence and execution on one of the most demanding tracks in alpine skiing.
High-bib top-30 finishers (bib 31+):
- 13th — Bib 57 — 🇫🇷 Nils Alphand (FRA) — +0.67
- 14th — Bib 41 — 🇫🇷 Alban Elezi Cannaferina (FRA) — +0.72
- 16th — Bib 51 — 🇫🇷 Sam Alphand (FRA) — +0.82
- 18th — Bib 50 — 🇺🇸 Sam Morse (USA) — +0.87
- 20th — Bib 32 — 🇫🇷 Blaise Giezendanner (FRA) — +0.93
- 21st — Bib 46 — 🇮🇹 Benjamin Jacques Alliod (ITA) — +0.94
- 27th — Bib 33 — 🇨🇭 Marco Kohler (SUI) — +1.07
- 28th — Bib 54 — 🇮🇹 Max Perathoner (ITA) — +1.08
- 28th — Bib 37 — 🇨🇦 Riley Seger (CAN) — +1.08
Highest bib to score points: Bib 57 — Nils Alphand
Fastest finisher among bib 31+: Bib 57 — Nils Alphand
Late runs were made even more impressive by the changing light, which consistently darkens for higher start numbers on the Streif and magnifies every mistake.
All eyes turn to Saturday
With the super-G complete, attention now shifts to Saturday’s Hahnenkamm downhill — widely regarded as the Super Bowl of alpine ski racing.
Odermatt will arrive hungry, chasing the one Kitzbühel prize that has eluded him so far and a chance at true Streif immortality.
Top 30 results
Click images to enlarge
Analysis of the leaders and North Americans among the top 30
About the Author: Peter Lange
