Odermatt leads Kranjska Gora GS

Marco Odermatt. GEPA pictures.

KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia – Once again, Marco Odermatt will go into the second run of a men’s World Cup GS with a lead. Global Racing’s Paul Epstein set a course with more width in the turns, but the conclusion is the same. Marco Odermatt is the fastest.

“The pressure is not huge. I have a lot of confidence,” said Odermatt, who won a GS on the same hill Saturday and triumphed in five of the eight giant slaloms he started this season.

France’s Alexis Pinturault continues to show he has excellent late-season form. Pinturault made a significant mistake but trailed Odermatt by only (+0.28). In third is Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen (+0.47).

Odermatt has already successfully defended his overall title this season, while also winning the super-G globe and world titles in GS and downhill.

The fastest three of the first run are identical to yesterday’s podium.

North Americans

The fastest North American in the first run was Stifel US Alpine Team member River Radamus. Radamus was (+2.38) off the leader’s pace but will enter the afternoon run in 11th. His teammate, Tommy Ford, is (+3.14) back in 16th. Ford could use a good finish to consolidate his invitation to the Soldeu Andorra World Cup finals.

The other US athlete to qualify is Global Racing’s George Steffey. Steffey used a pair of solid middle sectors to qualify for only the second time in his career. Steffey ended the morning tied for 25th (+4.02) back.

The only Canadian to qualify was veteran Erik Read. Read was 30th (+4.10) and will start first in the second run.

Good skiing rewarded

The overnight freeze supplied an excellent race surface and rewarded good skiing executed by the later start numbers. This morning, four racers with bibs above 30 could qualify for the second run. The fastest was Sweden’s bib 37, Mattias Roenngren, who ended the morning in 17th.

After the first 15 racers completed their first runs, the time differential among those who finished was considerable (+3.67). By the end of the first run, the top 15 differential dropped to (+3.10). The time spread from the fastest to the 30th was (+4.10).

It was another blue sky day at the Alpine World Cup. A large crowd showed up to watch the final 2022-23 regular season World Cup. While it has been an excellent year for spectators and travel, there is considerable concern about the snowpack volume on the European training glaciers for summer training.

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

Analysis of the fastest three and qualifying North Americans

The Associated Press contributed to this report.