Odermatt évite la catastrophe, Feller domine la première manche du géant.

Marco Odermatt humbled in Schladming giant slalom, but still in contention for victory

In a surprising turn of events, Swiss skier Marco Odermatt fell short in the first leg of the Schladming giant slalom, finishing in 11th place on the Planai slope. Until now, Odermatt had been untouchable in the giant slalom this winter, making this result a big surprise. However, he is not yet out of the race for the victory, as he is only 0.98 seconds behind the current leader, Manuel Feller.

In great form and full of confidence, Austrian skier Manuel Feller took first place in the first leg, ahead of defending Swiss champion Loic Meillard (+0.10 seconds) and Norwegian skier Henrik Kristoffersen (+0.19 seconds). Among the French skiers, Thibaut Favrot is also in contention for a podium finish, currently in 8th place, 0.84 seconds behind the leader.

It’s worth noting that this is Odermatt’s first time skiing on the Planai slope, as he was forced to withdraw from the race last year. Despite a significant mistake on the first run, Odermatt managed to salvage his performance and stay in the top 11 (+0.98 seconds). However, he will need to put in an exceptional performance to beat Manuel Feller.

Manuel Feller started the race at a slower pace, but his dynamic and precise skiing made the difference as he pushed hard between the gates. Feller, who used to make a lot of mistakes, has become more stable and consistent, which has greatly improved his performances. He finished ahead of defending champion Loic Meillard (+0.10 seconds), and Henrik Kristoffersen, who was seeking redemption after a disappointing performance in Kitzbuhel (+0.19 seconds).

However, with such small time gaps, the competition is still wide open. Zan Kranjec (+0.30 seconds), Filip Zubcic (+0.39 seconds), and Alexander Steen Olsen (+0.41 seconds) are all within striking distance, and the top 11 skiers are separated by less than a second.

Among the French skiers, Thibaut Favrot performed well in the absence of Alexis Pinturault. Starting with bib number 22, Favrot struggled initially but gained momentum as the run progressed. Despite a few mistakes, he managed to secure a solid 8th place finish (+0.84 seconds) and can now dream of a podium finish. Another French skier, Leo Anguenot, qualified for the second leg with a 21st place finish (+1.62 seconds).

Overall, Marco Odermatt’s unexpected stumble in the Schladming giant slalom has added a new level of excitement to the race.