Marco Odermatt Wengen GEPA pictures/Mario Buehner-Weinrauch

Poetically, Marco Odermatt has won his first career World Cup downhill and it was in his home country of Switzerland. The 26-year-old is undoubtedly the best super-G and giant slalom skier in the world. Notably, he had earned 11 downhill podiums before today, eight of which were 2nd place. However, he is the reigning downhill World Champion. The ski racing community knew a World Cup victory was coming soon. Today, he was fastest in four of the five timing sections and delivered a decisive victory.

“To cross the finish line after Kilde, with eight-tenths ahead, it was a good run; the feeling was perfect,” Odermatt said. “I took a lot of risk and it worked out, so I knew it was going to be difficult to beat.”

“It was a similar feeling to Bormio, but that wasn’t enough against Sarrazin. So I was a bit nervous when he skied. He was fast again.”

No surprise podium

The first of the favorites to ski was bib 6 Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. Kilde won the Wengen downhill last season from the lower start and, using that knowledge, exhausted all of his energy on the short course. Although he got out of balance after the Hundschopf jump and lost time, Kilde skied at the limit of his ability and crossed the finish with a (-0.44) lead.

“I woke up this morning and I didn’t feel like a million dollars,” said Kilde. “It was a fun race, good weather; I like Wengen. But it was hard for me to really work with the jumps.

However, the 30,000 Swiss fans had come to see their superstar and overall leader, bib 8 Marco Odermatt, win his first World Cup downhill, and he did not disappoint. Odermatt skied at a level that seemed humanly impossible and ignited the crowd by finishing with a (-0.81) lead over Kilde.

Then, Bormio winner bib 11 Cyprien Sarrazin of France showed his world-class skills and finished between Odermatt and Kilde but was still (+0.58) behind Marco the Magnificent.

“I am really satisfied, really happy, I’m between two big guys,” Sarrazin said.  

“After Bormio, I was not so certain I would do that again. Today is not perfect like Bormio, but it was a good run.”

Click on images to enlarge.

For all practical purposes, the podium was decided when Sarrazin crossed the finish. The best downhillers in the world skied early and delivered excellence. They skied at a level unmatched by the rest of the field. On a course known for the slowest speed in the Kernen-S and the highest speed at the bottom of the Hanneggschuss, the Lauberhorn tested all their skills and the best rose to the top.

Today, the podium offered no surprises.

Notable North Americans

It was an excellent day for Stifel US Ski Team’s Ryan Cochran-Siegle. After delivering two solid results in Val Gardena / Gröden, he failed to score points in Bormio, on a course he has had significant success on. Today, he earned his first top-ten of the season. He finishes 6th (+1.23), his career-best Wengen downhill result.

Also among the top twenty was Val Gardena / Gröden winner Stifel US Ski Team’s Bryce Bennett. Bennett skied well with bib two and crossed into second. Although his time was among amazing downhill racers, he finished 16th (+1.69) behind Odermatt.

Unfortunately, Canada’s number one, James “Jack” Crawford, in the difficult terrain traversing to the top of the Canadian Corner he had trouble, losing all his speed and chance for a successful day.

World Championship bronze medalist Canadian Cameron Alexander struggled to find the speed at the top of the course before coming alive in the final three sectors. Alexander finishes the day 24th (+2.23)

Joining the three other North Americans among the points was Stifel US Ski Team’s Sam “Moose” Morse. Morse scores his first downhill point of the season by finishing 30th (+2.55).

Other interesting details

Today was the replacement race for the canceled Beaver Creek event. So, even though the weather was perfect, today’s race was planned to begin from the lower start. The full-length Lauberhorn is scheduled for Saturday. The race began immediately above the iconic Hundschopf “dog’s ears” jump. The course was close to 45 seconds shorter than the classic full-length version. The shorter course drastically changes the amount of energy the racers have at the bottom, allowing dynamic skiing through the finish.

The race was paused numerous times, including a long hold after bib 47, because of limited visibility at the finish. Although the sky was clear at the top of the course, fog blanketed the bottom.

Notably, bib 36 Switzerland’s Franjo Von Allmen was flagged on the course because his teammate Marco Kohler had fallen before him. He was helicoptered to the top for a rerun. He delivered the 14th best time.

Only four athletes with bibs over 30 could finish among the points today. The fastest was France’s bib 31 Alexis Pinturault, who finished the day in 9th (+1.43). The last to do so was Switzerland’s bib 36 Allmen, who finished the race in 14th (+1.63)

Tomorrow, the Wengen SG begins at the same start.

Top 30 Wengen DH results and analysis of the fastest three and top 30 North Americans

Analysis of the fastest three and top 30 North Americans