Marco Odermatt Remains Resolute in Bansko; Three Stifel US Ski Team Athletes in the Top 30 After 1st Run

Featured Image: Marco Odermatt competing in the Bansko World Cup GS. Credit: GEPA

The spectators crowded in at the bottom of the course, ready to cheer on the World Cup men in an exhilarating giant slalom race in Bansko, Bulgaria. The hill was bulletproof ice, so the men had to commit to their outside ski while attacking gate-to-gate. 

Manuel Feller, wearing bib-1 set the pace for the field, attacking the course gate-to-gate. With confidence, the Austrian kept his line tight through the top steeper section and pushed it through the turny sections of the course. 

Feller managed to maintain his position against Croatian, Filip Zubcic, but as soon as the GS superstar and current leader of the World Cup Standings, Marco Odermatt came down he was pushed out of the lead by -0.42. Odermatt has won all five GS races this season and was not letting up on this hill. 

He went through the course displaying skill with smooth transitions on the ice. He lost a little time through the middle section to Feller’s time, but brought it back at the end of the course and came across the finish line 4-tenths ahead of the first two athletes. 

Running bib-10, Alexander Steen Olsen matched Marco Odermatt’s top interval time, unveiling his grit from the start. Through the middle, where Odermatt lost a little time, Steen Olsen’s time pulled ahead. Steen Olsen was able to maintain speed and put himself into 2nd place going into the second run, +0.35 behind the leading time. 

Joan Verdú of Andorra was laying down a fast run at the top, which was beating Odermatt’s time. Unfortunately, he got caught up in one of his turns and got forced out of the course. The athlete podiumed in Val d’Isère and has been searching for another top-3 finish, so this was a frustrating day for the athlete.

Towards the final racers of the first run, the sun came out from behind the clouds, making the visibility nicer for the later athletes. The lighting gave the athletes looking to move into the top 30 a better chance of doing so.  

The first run finished with Marco Odermatt in 1st place, Alexander Steen Olsen in 2nd  (+0.35) and Manuel Feller in 3rd (+0.47).

North Americans

River Radamus of the Stifel US Ski Team completed the top-15 racers. He was running a solid, tight line, attacking the panels with eagerness. He came through the finish line +1.16 behind Odermatt’s lead. 

If Radamus is able to maintain a top-10 result in the second run, it will be the athlete’s third top-10 result of the 2024 season. He had a highlight finish in the Adelboden GS this season, finishing in 4th place. He will aim to push his way up the leaderboard on the second run.

From beginning to end, Tommy Ford was striving to find more speed but was holding onto his edge a bit longer than needed, which was causing him to ski wider than most of the athletes before him. He came through the finish 3 seconds behind the leading time.

His teammate, George Steffey, put down a smooth run and came across the finish just 0.01 ahead of Ford. They finished with Steffey in 25th and Ford in 26th. They both aim to make up time in the second run. 

Alpine Canada Alpin, Erik Read came into a panel too tight, getting caught on it with his shoulder. He tried to pull it back as his hip dragged along the snow, but unfortunately got pushed out and into the b-netting. He stood up and seemed to be doing ok.

His teammate, Asher Jordan, also hip-checked and did not finish the course. 

Stifel US Ski Team athlete Isaiah Nelson got late and low in the middle of the course. He recovered and finished after his mistake, but will not be skiing the second run. 

His Teammate Brian Mclaughlin put down a mistake-free run, but his time was not fast enough to get him into the second run and Bridger Gile did not start.

Top 30 First Run Results

Analysis of the Fastest 3

Top 30 North Americans