World champion Marco Odermatt reinforced his position as the frontrunner for the Olympic super-G title on Friday by claiming victory in the first event of the renowned Hahnenkamm weekend, marking the final super-G competition before the Milan Cortina Games.
Odermatt, hailing from Switzerland, secured his second super-G win of the season, making him the only skier with multiple victories in this category during the current season, which had witnessed a different winner in each of the previous five events.
Competing under clear skies, Odermatt narrowly outpaced his compatriot Franjo von Allmen by a mere 0.03 seconds in Kitzbuhel, Austria.
Reflecting on his performance, Odermatt expressed his satisfaction, stating, “It was a tight race, so I am pleased with the outcome. I felt strong in the upper section, but I deviated from the ideal line in the middle, making my lead somewhat unexpected.”
Following the race, Odermatt gestured with his hand to signify the close margin and then playfully interacted with von Allmen, creating a light-hearted moment.
The Swiss duo led the pack, with Austrians Stefan Babinsky and Raphael Haaser trailing in third and fourth place, respectively, by 0.25 and 0.33 seconds.
Former world champion Vincent Kriechmayr, Odermatt’s closest rival in the super-G standings, finished in seventh place. Odermatt now holds a commanding 158-point lead over the Austrian with three races remaining post the Olympics.
Canadian skier Cam Alexander delivered a strong performance, securing the 11th spot, while his teammate Jack Crawford finished in 21st place.
Odermatt’s triumph brought him one step closer to third-placed Hermann Maier in the men’s World Cup all-time race winners list. Maier, with 54 career victories, remains behind Austrian legend Marcel Hirscher (67 wins) and Swedish star Ingemar Stenmark, who leads with 86 wins.
The overall World Cup race wins record is held by Mikaela Shiffrin, boasting 107 victories since her debut win in 2012.
In a thrilling turn of events, Swiss skier Arnaud Boisset had a frightening crash on the Seidlalm jump but fortunately emerged unscathed. Meanwhile, Norwegian skier Adrian Smiseth Sejersted skillfully avoided a fall after hitting a gate at the same jump, finishing impressively in fifth place.
Norwegian athlete Aleksander Aamodt Kilde opted out of the race due to back pain and decided to skip the following day’s downhill event in Kitzbuhel as well. Kilde, a two-time Kitzbuhel downhill winner and the 2020 overall champion, emphasized the importance of being fully prepared before competing on challenging courses like the Streif.
Kilde, recovering from leg and shoulder injuries sustained during a crash in Wengen in January 2024, aims to return to action at the upcoming downhill event in Crans-Montana, the final World Cup race before the Olympics.