Odermatt / Meillard / Aerni / Val d’Isère Swiss podium sweep / GEPA pictures
Swiss sweep Val d’Isère men’s GS as Meillard delivers under pressure
On a demanding Stade Olympique de Bellevarde that punished hesitation and magnified every mistake, Switzerland delivered a commanding performance Saturday, sweeping the podium in the men’s giant slalom at Val d’Isère, the fourth GS of the season.
Loïc Meillard converted one of the few first-run advantages that survived a brutally selective second run, winning in 2:10.07. Luca Aerni finished second, 0.18 seconds back, earning the first World Cup giant slalom podium of his career, while Marco Odermatt completed the Swiss sweep in third, 0.33 back, moving into the outright lead in the season giant slalom standings.
“It’s not my first triple victory, but every time it’s amazing,” Meillard said. “Winning ahead of Luca and Marco is a great feeling, and Luca’s first GS podium is also something special to share.”
Perfect weather removed excuses, but a demanding course set, deepening shadows, and changing light reshaped the race late in the second run. Skiers needed full commitment from the first gate, yet many paid dearly through the middle section, where timing and commitment proved decisive.
Meillard converts when others cannot
Meillard left the start with a 0.79-second first-run advantage over Aerini and immediately put pressure on. He extended the margin through the opening sector, managed it cleanly through the middle of the course, and crossed with enough in hand to seize the lead at a moment when others faltered.
“It’s been a busy two weeks since Copper Mountain, trying to find the rhythm again and get confidence back in my skiing,” Meillard said. “We did an amazing job as a team, and it’s thanks to them that I’m standing here.”
The victory marked the fifth World Cup giant slalom win of Meillard’s career, and the most complete performance of the day on a hill that steadily wore down the field.
“It shows that the speed is still there, that we worked correctly,” Meillard said. “Now it’s just to ski fast, feel good on the skis, enjoy the races and do my best. Today it worked well.”
Aerni breaks through as Odermatt settles for third
Aerni’s second run was a study in control. He absorbed pressure from the following seven starters, capitalizing as contender after contender failed to convert first-run advantages. His runner-up finish marked a long-awaited breakthrough at the World Cup level.
“First I was just happy for my performance,” Aerni said. “Then seeing I’m with Loïc on the podium — also because we train a lot together in the summer — and then Odi is always there, so it’s very nice.”
“I always try to ski GS in training, but I had some back problems,” Aerni said. “I think since two years ago it’s very good with the back, and now I have a very good feeling on the skis.”
Odermatt, the sport’s dominant figure, never took the race lead. With Aerni already finished, he struggled to find speed early, recovered some ground late, and crossed 0.33 seconds back into second before Meillard followed and dropped him to third. The result was still enough to move him ahead of Stefan Brennsteiner in the giant slalom standings after the pair arrived in Val d’Isère tied.
“With those two runs, I’m not actually happy with my skiing, but to end up on the podium with two friends on top, that’s an amazing day,” Odermatt said.
“It was a tough week with the jet lag and coming back to different snow, and it wasn’t easy today to get into 100 percent race focus,” he added. “But I skied down twice with a fight, and luckily it was enough for the podium.”
Radamus charges forward with fastest second run
River Radamus delivered one of the standout performances of the day. The Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s top men’s GS skier charged from 21st after the first run to sixth, climbing 15 places with the fastest second run in the field.
Radamus attacked from top to bottom on a hill that demanded commitment, carrying speed through sections that punished hesitation and gaining ground as favorites fell away.
“It’s a privilege to race here,” Radamus said. “You don’t really ski this hill — you battle with it first, and it’s always trying to get the better of you.”
His second run reflected that approach. While not flawless, it was decisive.
“In the second run, I didn’t execute everywhere, but I laid it on the line and I was able to have a good run,” he said.
The result reinforced a growing pattern this season: measured first runs followed by elite second-run execution — and growing belief within the U.S. team.
“I think the whole team is building some momentum,” Radamus said. “For a long time, we were just taking part. Now, every time we’re in the start, we want to put on a show. We want to risk it.”
Sarchett delivers career-changing result
Ryder Sarchett followed with a breakthrough of his own. The young American climbed 13 positions to finish 10th, backing up his first World Cup points from Beaver Creek and delivering a career-changing result on one of the calendar’s most demanding venues.
Sarchett skied with confidence and composure, excelling in the lower sectors where balance and timing mattered most, confirming that his recent progress is no fluke.
“It was amazing — the best result of my life so far,” Sarchett said.
Asked about sitting in the leader’s chair alongside his teammate, Sarchett emphasized the experience more than the position.
“It was amazing,” he said. “It’s always great to be there with your teammate.”
Late pressure and fading light shape the finish
As the final group pushed off, shadows crept across the slope and visibility flattened, adding another layer of difficulty. Several contenders — including Henrik Kristoffersen, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, Alex Vinatzer and Brennsteiner — briefly threatened before losing time through the same decisive sections.
First run leader, Brennsteiner, who entered the race tied with Odermatt in the GS standings, crossed in fifth after bleeding time early in his run, sealing Switzerland’s sweep at the top.
Skiers who moved up 10 or more places in the second run
- River Radamus (USA) — up 15 places to 6th
- Jonas Stockinger (GER) — up 15 places to 13th
- Ryder Sarchett (USA) — up 13 places to 10th
- Alexander Schmid (GER) — up 13 places to 13th (tie)
- Luca Aerni (SUI) — up 11 places to 2nd
- Filippo Della Vite (ITA) — up 10 places to 15th
Top 10 — Men’s GS, Val d’Isère
- Loïc Meillard (SUI) — 2:10.07
- Luca Aerni (SUI) — +0.18
- Marco Odermatt (SUI) — +0.33
- Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA) — +0.41
- Stefan Brennsteiner (AUT) — +0.44
- River Radamus (USA) — +0.54
- Patrick Feurstein (AUT) — +0.65
- Timon Haugan (NOR) — +0.69
- Alex Vinatzer (ITA) — +0.80
- Ryder Sarchett (USA) — +0.77
Race Results
Click images to enlarge
Second Run Analysis: Top Three and North Americans
About the Author: Peter Lange
