Featured Image: Loïc Meillard. Credit: GEPA
The Adelboden World Cup event kicked off yesterday with an exhilarating slalom race, in which Clément Noël from France emerged victorious against a competitive field.
Due to the potential for inclement weather today, the schedule for the slalom and giant slalom races was altered, a decision that proved advantageous for the athletes.
The Swiss home favorite, Marco Odermatt, explained, “It was a good decision that they switched the races because yesterday it would have been really difficult to have a GS race, and today everything looks good.”
With a bluebird day, his teammate, Loïc Meillard, took advantage of bib 1. Meillard was determined to redeem himself after his straddle in the slalom yesterday. He charged down the course with intensity and managed to clock the fastest time for the first run at 1:15.15.
If Meillard wins this giant slalom, it would mark his third career victory in the discipline. Last season, Meillard was the only other athlete to win a giant slalom besides Odermatt but has struggled to get onto the podium this season.
The Top 3 Heading into the Second Run
Henrik Kristoffersen, wearing bib 3, skied with consistency and attacked through each turn on the first run. He heads into the second run in second position, +0.27 behind Meillard.
The Norwegian continues to be a reliable competitor, currently sitting in second place in the rankings, just one point behind Odermatt. He started the season strong with a second-place finish in the opening race and has added three more top-nine results to his record.
Completing the top three athletes after the initial run is Swiss sensation Marco Odermatt. He’ll need to put in a strong effort to close the gap, currently trailing his teammate by 0.34 seconds.
Odermatt came into Adelboden with an eagerness to claim victory again after his wins in the Alta Badia and Val d’Isere giant slaloms.
Last season, Odermatt won the giant slalom World Cup standings with 900 points, 432 points over the field. He strives to conclude the season on the top of the standings again.
Additionally, if Odermatt wins, he will match the great Ingemar Stenmark (SWE) as the only man to win four World Cup GS titles in a row in Adelboden.
North Americans
Stifel US Ski Team athlete Tommy Ford heads into the second run as the fastest North American. He is in 13th place, +1.57 behind the lead. He will be gunning for a spot in the top 10 on the second run.
River Radamus was the first North American to ignite out of the start gate, wearing bib 14. He skied the first run tactically well, but slightly overskied the course, which caused him to lose some time.
He will enter the second run in 19th place, +2.15 behind the lead.
The Independent Global Racing athlete, Patrick Kenney, kicked out of his 16th World Cup start wearing bib 41. He skied with strength from the top to the bottom and geared up in the final section of the course. He heads into the second run in 26th position, +3.06 behind the lead.
Bridger Gile of the Stifel US Ski Team and Erik Read of Alpoine Canada Alpin, were met with the challenges of the rutted surface running later in the field. They continued to fight, but neither qualified for the second run.
Isaiah Nelson of the Stifel US Ski Team did not finish, along with Liam Wallace and Asher Jordan of Alpine Canada Alpin.
Other Highlights
Atle Lie Mcgrath of Norway concluded the first run in 4th-place position, just +0.01 off the podium. He has the potential to push it in the second run to secure another podium result. The 24-year-old started the season off with a GS podium finish in Sölden and will be aiming for another one.
The Swiss head into the second run with three athletes in the top 5. Thomas Tumler is in 5th position, +0.68 behind his teammate.
Tumler won in the Beaver Creek GS this season, and although he will have some work to do in the second run to claim a podium spot, he will be gunning for it.
Top 30 Race Results
Top Three Analysis
North American Analysis
About the Author: Ellie Hartman
