Odermatt’s record came back with a Super-G win in Cortina

Marco Odermatt has come back from a short injury break in impressive fashion. The Swiss skiing star won his first of two Super-G titles in Cortina d’Ampezzo on Saturday with a time of 1:25.57 minutes, ahead of Norway’s Alexander Amodt Kilde (+0.35 seconds) and Italy’s Mattia Kaas (+0, 49). ÖSV succeeded with five top-13 riders and Stefan Babinski, who recommended himself fourth (+0.63) ahead of fifth-place finisher Vincent Krechmayer (+0.76) to start the World Cup.

Combi World Champion Marco Schwartz also showed his speed qualities again in ninth place (+0.95). Even Lukas Feurstein raced to sixth place (+0.82) with a big number 43 and sunshine. Like Feurstein, Andreas Ploier achieved his best World Cup finish by a wide margin with a 13th place (+1.10). Otmar Striedinger withdrew with the best provisional time, Daniel Dunkelmayr on his comeback after a cruciate ligament tear after an attractive third provisional time (+0.56). Daniel Himetsberger didn’t see the target either. Raphael Yasser ended up in 17th place.

The Super G season continues after the winning fifth race at the Odermatt – Kilde exchange. “It’s the measure of all things Super-G,” Kriechmayr said. “A good incentive to do better – tomorrow.” Odermatt answered all questions about whether his injured knee could withstand the stress test. As if his meniscus and muscle had never been crushed, the 25-year-old rode to his 18th World Cup victory, seventh of the season. In disbelief, Odermatt grabbed his head as he swayed downward—and then spoke in an interview with ORF of his “near-distinguished victory.”

“It felt like you were out for so long because you simply lost confidence in your body,” said Odermatt, who skipped the second descent in Kitzbühel and the Schladming giant slalom. With a cold bag on his injured left knee, he sat in the commander’s chair.

Babinski saved his career-best score in the last sprint the weekend before the World Championships. But he didn’t want to claim a start at Meribel after that. “These are things I don’t decide on,” he said with a smile on his face in the end zone. “It’s important for me to look from race to race and get to the heart of my performance.” The 26-year-old performed well. It has never been better than seventh (Super-G Kitzbühel / 2021). “It is very good for me that I have implemented it in the race.”

At the Olympia delle Tofane, Kriechmayr gave a faultless, yet well-acted performance. “It was a solid ride, but no more than that,” said the Super-G world champion. Daniel Hemmettsburger’s ‘colossal’ failure before – his teammate at the key point ‘Scarpadon’ after just over a minute’s drive, could not find his way around the corner and pulled over – had made an impression. “Of course it affects you,” Krechmeyer said. “If it’s 98 percent closed, you’ll have one. Odermatt or Keldie won’t be deterred.”

Last but not least, Kriechmayr had a hand in the fantastic Feurstein race. “It helped a lot,” Feuerstein said via a voice message from the team leader. “He told us exactly how to ride the waves. Where to step on the gas, where to drive tactically. The turn course definitely suits me,” said Forstein, who was in charge of the whole preparation because a herniated disc had missed.

In Cortina, canceled Super-Gs from Val Gardena and Lake Louise will be added. Sunday’s race (10.15am / live ORF 1) is also the last sprint before the World Championships in Meribel / Courchevel (from February 6th).