Odermatt leads 1st run of Kranjska Gora GS

Marco Odermatt. GEPA pictures.

KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia — Marco Odermatt built a big lead in the opening run of a men’s World Cup giant slalom Saturday.

Once again, the best skier of the morning GS run is Switzerland’s, Odermatt. Odermatt makes it look easy, but that is deceiving. His peers are outstanding but unable to match his ability to execute the fastest line.

The fastest chaser is the home country fan favorite, Slovenian Zan Kranjec (+0.53). One one-hundredth behind Kranjec is Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen. Kristoffersen is also the closest to Odermatt in the season GS standings, 100 points behind.

Odermatt used the fastest time in three of the four sectors to dominate the first run.

With the assistance of the local race crew, the FIS has offered another 2023 miracle. Considering the warm temperatures, the snow surface was better than expected, and the chemical treatment of the track worked as well as can be expected. As always, the blue sky day has produced an enthusiastic crowd of excited fans.

At the end of the first 15 racers, the time differential between the fastest and the slowest is (+2.24). Unfortunately, Stifel US Alpine Team member River Radamus is the athlete among the first 15 who was furthest behind Odermatt. However, Radamus skied better than most of the field and will enter the afternoon run in 16th place. Radamus is the only US skier to qualify for the final run.

Canada’s Erik Read (+3.01) also struggled to find speed but will have an earlier second-run start number.

Canadian Asher Jordan has qualified for the first time in his career and will be the first skier to start the second run.

The fastest of higher bib numbers is the bib 24, rising Norwegian star, Alexander Steen Olsen. The 21-year-old Steen Olsen is among the best skiers in the world and has used the season to quickly climb the World Cup start list. He is likely to qualify for his first World Cup GS final.

After the first 30 had started, the time spread among the 24 finishers was (+3.85), a testament to the tricky snow conditions. At the end of the first run, the time spread between the first and the 30th was (+3.70). Seven men with bibs higher than 30 could qualify for the afternoon run. Skiing with bib 45, Italian Hannes Zingerle was outstanding and finished the morning 18th.

Considering the temperatures and soft snow, it can be assumed the early second-run starters will have a significant advantage.

Top 30 first-run results and analysis of the fastest three and top 30 North Americans

Analysis of the fastest three and top 30 North Americans

The Associated Press contributed to this report.