Saalbach 2025 Men’s GS Preview: Top Contenders & Race Details

Joan Verdú, Loïc Meillard, Thomas Tumler podium Saalbach World Cup finals 2024: GEPA pictures

Saalbach World Championship GS 2025: Who’s Racing, When, and How to Watch

Saalbach 2025 Men’s GS Preview: A Test of Stamina and Skill

The men’s giant slalom at the 2025 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Saalbach will challenge racers with a long, demanding course on the Zwölferkogel. With 450 meters (1,476 feet) of vertical drop, the track requires a balance of power, precision and endurance.  

One of the most defining features of the course is the Ochsenritt, a legendary section that has tested World Cup racers in past competitions. This segment starts with a compression that generates significant forces, followed by a breakover, a wave, and a long, flat stretch. Skiers must absorb the compression, navigate the technical elements, and maintain as much speed as they can into the next section. A mistake here could cost valuable time and momentum.

The course itself is relatively flat for a giant slalom. However, what it lacks in steep pitches, it makes up for in length. As Marco Odermatt put it, “The giant slalom course is fairly flat, but extremely long, making it very, very challenging.” The Swiss star, known for his technical mastery and endurance, will be among the favorites to tackle this demanding track.

Every section of the course will matter, with a field of top racers set to battle for the world title. The Ochsenritt will be a key test, and maintaining speed on the flatter sections could decide the champion.

Saalbach 2024 Finals: The GS Podium

Loïc Meillard took the win in the 2024 World Cup Finals in Saalbach after a strong second run, securing his place as a top contender in giant slalom. The Swiss skier, now ranked sixth in the GS standings, delivered under pressure and claimed victory on a challenging course.

Joan Verdú joined him on the podium, the rising talent from Andorra. Ranked 17th in GS this season, Verdú built on his momentum from last year’s breakthrough, recently finishing sixth in the Schladming night GS. His ability to perform on different courses has made him a consistent top-level presence.

Thomas Tumler rounded out the podium with a third-place finish. The Swiss veteran, currently ranked eighth in GS, proved his speed earlier in the season with a victory in Beaver Creek. His ability to attack on longer courses makes him a racer to watch. With all three podium finishers returning to Saalbach for the World Championships, their past success on this hill could produce another strong result

With all three podium finishers returning to Saalbach for the World Championships, their past success on this hill could produce another strong result.

Men’s GS World Cup Podiums Leading Into Saalbach

Sölden, Austria – 1st: Alexander Steen Olsen (NOR), 2nd: Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR), 3rd: Atle Lie McGrath (NOR)

Beaver Creek, USA – 1st: Thomas Tumler (SUI), 2nd: Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA), 3rd: Žan Kranjec (SLO)

Val d’Isère, France – 1st: Marco Odermatt (SUI), 2nd: Patrick Feurstein (AUT), 3rd: Stefan Brennsteiner (AUT)

Alta Badia, Italy – 1st: Marco Odermatt (SUI), 2nd: Léo Anguenot (FRA), 3rd: Alexander Steen Olsen (NOR)

Adelboden, Switzerland – 1st: Marco Odermatt (SUI), 2nd: Loïc Meillard (SUI), 3rd: Luca De Aliprandini (ITA)

Schladming, Austria – 1st: Alexander Steen Olsen (NOR), 2nd: Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR), 3rd: Marco Odermatt (SUI)

Podium Count by Nation:

• Switzerland (SUI): 7 podiums (4 wins – Odermatt, 1 win – Tumler, 2 runner-ups – Meillard & Tumler)
  Norway (NOR): 6 podiums (2 wins – Steen Olsen, 2 runner-ups – Kristoffersen, 2 third place – McGrath & Steen Olsen)
  Austria (AUT): 2 podiums (1 runner-up – Feurstein, 1 third place – Brennsteiner)
  Slovenia (SLO): 1 podium (1 third place – Kranjec)
  France (FRA): 1 podium (1 runner-up – Anguenot)
  Italy (ITA): 1 podium (1 third place – De Aliprandini)
  Brazil (BRA): 1 podium (1 runner-up – Pinheiro Braathen)
  
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With the World Championship title on the line, these results set the stage for a thrilling battle in Saalbach. Odermatt remains the clear favorite, but Steen Olsen, Kristoffersen, and Tumler have all proven they can challenge for the sport’s biggest prize. Only one skier will leave Saalbach as the new GS World Champion.

Current Top 15 Men’s 2024-25 GS World Cup Standings

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Top 16 Men’s 2024-25 GS World Cup Standings

The 2024-25 GS standings highlight the depth of competition, with nine nations in the top 15 rankings. Norway leads with four athletes, followed by Switzerland with three. Austria and France have two, while Slovenia, Italy, Croatia, Brazil, and the United States have one skier in the top 15.

With the Saalbach World Championships approaching, the standings and podium trends point to a tight battle between Switzerland and Norway for the title.  The season leader, Switzerland, remains the favorite, but Norway’s multiple GS winners and Austria’s podium finishers suggest the race for gold is wide open.

The most recent Schladming GS podium, which saw two Norwegians finish ahead of the overall leader, strengthens the case for a Norwegian challenge in Saalbach. Austria, racing on home snow, could also make a strong push for the podium, while Slovenia and Switzerland have been consistent threats throughout the season.

Though World Cup points are not awarded at the World Championships, the season’s results strongly indicate the top contenders. One of these skiers will leave Saalbach as the new GS World Champion.

One hundred racers from 60 countries will compete in the Men’s Giant Slalom at the 2025 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Saalbach on February 14.

M. Kroisleitner (AUT) set the first run course and H. Krug (SUI) will set the second.

2024-25 North American Men’s World Cup GS Rankings

Notably, Tommy Ford was named to the U.S. World Championship team but was injured training GS and will not participate

U.S. Skiers Aim to Shine

River Radamus

Radamus has been the most consistent U.S. giant slalom skier this season, sitting 14th in the World Cup standings. A Stifel U.S. Ski Team member, he has scored points in all six GS races, with his best finish in Beaver Creek, where he placed 7th on home snow. He finished in the top 15 five times and was 17th at last year’s Saalbach Finals. This will be his third World Championships GS appearance, following 11th in 2021 and 12th in 2023. Last season, he also earned his first World Cup podium, further proving his ability to compete at the highest level. With his steady form and experience, he is the top North American contender in Saalbach.

Patrick Kenney

Kenney, a former University of New Hampshire standout, earned his first World Championships start after a breakthrough 23rd-place finish in Adelboden. Now racing independently with Global Racing, he sits 45th in the season standings. Competing at the World Championships for the first time will be a new challenge, but his steady improvement suggests he is ready for the opportunity.

Bridger Gile

Gile, also a Stifel U.S. Ski Team member, will make his World Championships debut in Saalbach. Ranked 81st in GS, he has 21 World Cup starts but is still aiming for his first World Cup Start List points. While he has yet to break into the top 30, he has the skills and potential to meet that challenge.

Isaiah Nelson

Nelson, the 2022 Junior World Super-G Champion, is another Stifel U.S. Ski Team member looking to make an impact. Ranked 55th on the FIS GS list, he has competed in 16 World Cup GS races and qualified for a second run in Aspen last season, though he did not finish. He is still seeking his first World Cup Start List points, which are awarded to the top 15 at World Championships and Olympics. If he can put together two solid runs, he could break through in Saalbach.

With four U.S. skiers in the field, including three members of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, Saalbach presents a valuable opportunity for them to deliver strong performances at the World Championships.

Canada’s Representation in the Saalbach 2025 GS

Erik Read

Reac will be Canada’s sole representative in the men’s giant slalom at the Saalbach 2025 World Championships. The independent skier, who trains with the World Racing Academy, scored his first GS World Cup points of the season with a 20th-place finish in Alta Badia.

A seasoned competitor, Read has raced in five previous World Championships—2015 (Vail/Beaver Creek), 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023. His best GS result came in St. Moritz 2017, where he finished 23rd. A University of Denver graduate, he was a standout collegiate skier before moving full-time to the World Cup circuit. He also qualified for four straight World Cup Finals from 2020 to 2023, proving his consistency at the highest level.

With a deep understanding of championship racing and years of experience, Read will aim to put together his best performance yet in Saalbach.

North American men racing GS

• Bib 14, River Radamus, Stifel USST, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, SYNC Shields
• Bib 29, Erik Read, CAN World Racing Academy, Banff Alpine Racers, University of Denver, Atomic
• Bib 33, Patrick Kenney, USA, Global Racing, University of New Hampshire, Burke Mountain Academy, Marker/Völkl, SYNC, SHRED
• Bib 34, Isaiah Nelson, Stifel USST, Buck Hill Ski Team, SHRED
• Bib 40, Bridger Gile, Stifel USST, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, HEAD, Oakley, SYNC Shields

How and When to Watch

The downhill run starts at 3:45 a.m. Eastern and 12:45 a.m. Pacific Time, with the slalom run following at 7:15 a.m. Eastern and 4:15 a.m. Pacific Time.

U.S. audiences can watch the race live or as a replay on Ski and Snowboard Live.

Sports enthusiasts in Canada can watch the World Cup on CBC Sports.

Daily Program and First Run Start List

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First Run Start List