Stephan Brennsteiner : GEPA pictures
Brennsteiner Leads Val d’Isère GS After First Run
Stefan Brennsteiner delivered the fastest first run Saturday in the men’s World Cup giant slalom on the Stade Olympique de Bellevarde, taking the early lead under sunny blue skies and near-perfect conditions.
The Austrian stopped the clock in 1:01.15, skiing aggressively through the middle of the course and separating himself late. His lead stands at the moment, but the margins remain tight, with seven skiers within one second of him heading into the second run.
Henrik Kristoffersen NOR sits second, 0.28 seconds back, after pushing hard from the start and staying aggressive throughout the course. Norway’s Timon Haugan NOR followed in third (+0.33), finding his giant slalom speed on one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar after waiting for it to surface earlier this season.
Odermatt, Meillard Stay Close
Marco Odermatt SUI remains firmly in the fight. The Swiss star finished the first run fourth (+0.46). Although he skied a clean, it is always notable when he does not lead after the opening run — but it happens.
Loïc Meillard SUI sits fifth (+0.57), a welcome sight near the front after a quieter start to the season in GS. Meillard has shown this level many times in the past, and Saturday’s run put him back in the conversation.
Italy’s Alex Vinatzer placed sixth (+0.73), continuing to show strong form after finishing second in last week’s Beaver Creek giant slalom. Switzerland’s Thomas Tumler and Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen round out the top eight as the race remains wide open.
Stifel U.S. Ski Team
The United States will send two skiers into the second run.
River Radamus qualified comfortably in 21st place (+1.79) and again positioned himself for a potential move forward in the second run.
The Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s top men’s giant slalom skier struggled to find his top speed early in the first run, giving up time in the opening sectors on the demanding Stade Olympique de Bellevarde. Radamus skied faster late, limiting the damage and securing a solid second-run start.
This season, Radamus has moved back during the first run but did enough to advance. He has repeatedly shown the ability to make up significant ground in second runs and remains well positioned heading into the afternoon.
Ryder Sarchett showed a strong start to the European swing, qualifying for the second run in 23rd place (+1.81) with bib 52, the highest number to advance.
The former Colorado Buffalo gave up time early, losing 0.68 seconds in the opening sector and additional ground through the second. However, Sarchett showed composure and confidence on the demanding Stade Olympique de Bellevarde, finding rhythm in the middle of the course and skiing the third sector among the top 15.
Sarchett’s ability to stabilize the run after a difficult start proved decisive, marking his second qualification in two weeks and underscoring his growing comfort and poise at the World Cup level under pressure.
Late-Bib Qualifiers (Bibs 31+)
Five skiers wearing bib 31 or higher qualified for the second run — an unusual outcome on a slope as challenging as Bellevarde, especially with no DNFs inside the top 30.
- Bib 52 — Ryder Sarchett (USA) — 23rd, +1.81 — fastest and highest start number of the late-bib group
- Bib 31 — Filippo Della Vite (ITA) — 25th, +1.86
- Bib 37 — Jonas Stockinger (GER) — 28th, +2.07
- Bib 41 — Joshua Sturm (AUT) — 29th, +2.13
- Bib 32 — Eirik Hystad Solberg (NOR) — 30th, +2.17
Just outside the cutoff, Erik Read (CAN) missed qualification by 0.02 seconds, finishing 31st (+2.19) in a tightly packed field.
What Comes Next
Only the fastest 30 advance, and the second run will be raced in reverse order, placing immediate pressure on early starters and setting the stage for frequent lead changes.
With Brennsteiner narrowly in front and the field compressed behind him, the final outcome will remain uncertain until the last racer crosses the line.
First Run top thirty results
Click images to enlarge
Run Analysis of the fastest three and North American Qualifiers
About the Author: Peter Lange
