Lucas Pinheiro Braathen / GEPA pictures
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup heads to Slovenia for the eighth men’s giant slalom of the 2025–26 season, where a deep field will attack the demanding Podkoren 3 race hill in Kranjska Gora.
Below you’ll find how and when to watch, the downloadable start list, the daily program, and full field analysis ahead of the final giant slalom of the regular season.
This race carries major consequences. It is the last opportunity to qualify for the World Cup Finals, where only the Top 25 athletes in the discipline standings and the Junior World Champion will be invited to compete in Hafjell, Norway.
Who Has Won the Men’s Giant Slalom Races This Season?
Men’s World Cup Giant Slalom Podiums — 2025–26 Season
| Venue | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sölden | 🇨🇭 Marco Odermatt (SUI) | 🇦🇹 Marco Schwarz (AUT) | 🇳🇴 Atle Lie McGrath (NOR) |
| Stifel Copper Cup – Copper Mountain | 🇦🇹 Stefan Brennsteiner (AUT) | 🇳🇴 Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) | 🇭🇷 Filip Zubčić (CRO) |
| Beaver Creek | 🇨🇭 Marco Odermatt (SUI) | 🇮🇹 Alex Vinatzer (ITA) | 🇳🇴 Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) |
| Val d’Isère | 🇨🇭 Loïc Meillard (SUI) | 🇨🇭 Luca Aerni (SUI) | 🇨🇭 Marco Odermatt (SUI) |
| Alta Badia | 🇦🇹 Marco Schwarz (AUT) | 🇧🇷 Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA) | 🇦🇹 Stefan Brennsteiner (AUT) |
| Adelboden | 🇨🇭 Marco Odermatt (SUI) | 🇧🇷 Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA) | 🇫🇷 Léo Anguenot (FRA) |
| Schladming | 🇨🇭 Loïc Meillard (SUI) | 🇧🇷 Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA) | 🇫🇷 Alban Elezi Cannaferina (FRA) |
| Olympic Cortina | 🥇 🇧🇷 Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA) | 🥈 🇨🇭 Marco Odermatt (SUI) | 🥉 🇨🇭 Loïc Meillard (SUI) |
Through eight races the season has produced three different World Cup race winners from two nations.
- Marco Odermatt (SUI) — 3 wins
- Loïc Meillard (SUI) — 2 wins
- Stefan Brennsteiner (AUT) — 1 win
- Marco Schwarz (AUT) — 1 win
Podium depth has also been strong with nine different athletes reaching the podium from seven countries.
Podium count by nation
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland — 7
- 🇦🇹 Austria — 4
- 🇧🇷 Brazil — 3
- 🇳🇴 Norway — 3
- 🇫🇷 France — 2
- 🇮🇹 Italy — 1
- 🇭🇷 Croatia — 1
That depth highlights just how competitive the giant slalom discipline has become this season.
Who Leads the Giant Slalom Standings and Globe Race?
(after Schladming – 7 of 9 races)
- 1. 🇨🇭 Marco Odermatt (SUI, 1997, Stöckli) — 450 pts
- 2. 🇧🇷 Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA, 2000, Atomic, Oakley) — 347 pts (−103)
- 3. 🇨🇭 Loïc Meillard (SUI, 1996) — 326 pts (−124)
- 4. 🇦🇹 Stefan Brennsteiner (AUT, 1991) — 321 pts (−129)
- 5. 🇦🇹 Marco Schwarz (AUT, 1995, Atomic) — 284 pts (−166)
With just two giant slaloms left this season, Marco Odermatt holds a commanding advantage in the race for the discipline globe. However, the title is not yet secured.
If Odermatt leaves Kranjska Gora with more than a 100-point lead over Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, the globe will be mathematically decided before the Finals. If the gap drops below that threshold, the championship battle continues to Hafjell.
Behind them, the race for second place in the discipline standings remains extremely tight, with Pinheiro Braathen, Meillard, Brennsteiner and Schwarz separated by only a handful of points.
Who Starts in the First Seed and Could Reach the Podium?
(Bib Order — Run 1)
- Bib 1 — 🇨🇭 Marco Odermatt (SUI, 1997, Stöckli) — WCSL Rank 1
- Bib 2 — 🇦🇹 Stefan Brennsteiner (AUT, 1991) — WCSL Rank 5
- Bib 3 — 🇦🇹 Marco Schwarz (AUT, 1995, Atomic) — WCSL Rank 6
- Bib 4 — 🇧🇷 Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA, 2000, Atomic, Oakley) — WCSL Rank 2
- Bib 5 — 🇨🇭 Loïc Meillard (SUI, 1996) — WCSL Rank 3
- Bib 6 — 🇳🇴 Atle Lie McGrath (NOR, 2000, Head) — WCSL Rank 7
- Bib 7 — 🇳🇴 Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR, 1994) — WCSL Rank 4
The World Cup Start List (WCSL) determines the first seed group, meaning these athletes will start on the cleanest course in the opening run.
Historically, podium finishers overwhelmingly come from this early group, making these seven racers the most likely contenders for victory in Kranjska Gora.
🇺🇸 Which Stifel U.S. Ski Team Racers Are in the Start List?
The United States brings six racers to Kranjska Gora led by River Radamus, who sits comfortably inside the Top 10 in the discipline standings and is essentially assured a place at the World Cup Finals in Hafjell.
Radamus is safely inside the Top-25 cutoff. Sarchett sits outside the Finals qualification line and would need a major result to move into contention with only this race remaining before the Finals.
Start List
- Bib 12 — 🇺🇸 River Radamus (USA, 1998) — Stifel U.S. Ski Team — Ski & Snowboard Club Vail — WC GS Rank 10
- Bib 31 — 🇺🇸 Ryder Sarchett (USA, 2000) — Stifel U.S. Ski Team — Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation / Sun Valley Community School — WC GS Rank 33 — NCAA All-American — University of Colorado
- Bib 39 — 🇺🇸 Isaiah Nelson (USA, 2001) — Stifel U.S. Ski Team
- Bib 51 — 🇺🇸 Bridger Gile (USA, 1999, Head, Oakley) — Stifel U.S. Ski Team — Ski & Snowboard Club Vail
- Bib 62 — 🇺🇸 Cooper Puckett (USA, 2003, Head) — Stifel U.S. Ski Team
- Bib 65 — 🇺🇸 Patrick Kenney (USA, 1997, Völkl) — Stifel U.S. Ski Team — NCAA All-American — University of New Hampshire — Burke Mountain Academy
🇨🇦 Which Canadian Racers Will Start in Kranjska Gora?
Canada fields two racers in the Kranjska Gora giant slalom with Liam Wallace representing Alpine Canada and veteran Erik Read racing independently.
Read sits outside the Top-25 Finals cutoff and would need a major result to extend his season. Wallace continues to gain World Cup experience against one of the deepest technical fields on the circuit.
Start List
- Bib 53 — 🇨🇦 Erik Read (CAN, 1991) — Independent — Atomic — WC GS Rank 38
- Bib 57 — 🇨🇦 Liam Wallace (CAN, 1999) — Alpine Canada
🇬🇧 Which GB Snowsport Athlete Is Racing in Kranjska Gora?
Great Britain has one racer entered in the Kranjska Gora giant slalom.
The young British skier continues building experience on the World Cup circuit against a deep international field.
Start List
- Bib 48 — 🇬🇧 Freddy Carrick-Smith (GBR, 2007) — GB Snowsport
Who Can Still Qualify for the World Cup Finals?
Kranjska Gora marks the last giant slalom of the regular season, making it the final opportunity for athletes to qualify for the World Cup Finals in Hafjell, Norway.
- Only the Top 25 skiers in the discipline standings will qualify
- The Junior World Champion in GS also receives a start
- Skiers with 500+ overall World Cup points may choose to start in any discipline
For many athletes in the field, this race determines whether their season continues in Norway or ends in Slovenia.
Course setters — First run: J. Lago (AND) Second run: O. Masdal (NOR)
What to watch
The men’s giant slalom is set for Saturday, March 7th. Run one begins at 3:30 a.m. ET / 12:30 a.m. PT, followed by run two at 6:30 a.m. ET / 3:30 a.m. PT. Fans in Great Britain can tune in at 8:30 for the first run and 11:30 for the second.
How to Watch
- 🇺🇸 United States: Live and replay coverage on Ski and Snowboard Live
- 🇨🇦 Canada: Live streaming on CBC Sports.
- 🇬🇧 Great Britain: Both races air live on Discovery+
Daily Program
Click on the image to download
First Run Starlist
About the Author: Peter Lange
