Swiss star Odermatt edges Zubčić to win World Cup giant slalom at Alta Badia
2-time defending overall World Cup champion secures victory by just 0.19 seconds
Marco Odermatt claimed a record-matching fifth straight World Cup giant slalom victory on Sunday in Italy but his win at Alta Badia was by a more slender margin than the two-time defending overall World Cup champion is used to.
Odermatt heaved a sigh of relief as the Swiss star crossed the line with a combined time just 0.19 seconds faster than Filip Zubčić, who could only shake his head and smile wryly.
Zubčić had seemed set for a first victory in nearly three years and yelled in joy after a perfect run down the Gran Risa saw the Croatian finish more than two seconds ahead of Zan Kranjec.
But Odermatt is almost unbeatable in his favoured discipline.
The Olympic, world and World Cup champion in giant slalom had led after the first run and also laid down a strong second one to claim his 14th victory in the past 20 World Cup races in the event.
WATCH | Odermatt clinches victory:
"I knew as always, I had to keep risking and really push it and I had a good run," Odermatt said. "The snow was better than expected in the second run — it was not as bumpy as I expected.
"I saw it was very tight at top and then the big distance until the third place, so I knew I had to ski really well. I had a good feeling while skiing — it felt very good."
The 26-year-old Odermatt, who had also won in Alta Badia in each of the past two years, won the only other giant slalom so far this season last week by almost one full second.
WHAT A RACE!! Amazing 🤩 @marcoodermatt wins his 3rd Giant Slalom in @skiworldcupaltabadia, 16th in World Cup! 👽<br>The podium is completed by @filipzubcic10 🇭🇷 and by <a href="https://twitter.com/ZanKranjec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zankranjec</a> 🇸🇮<br>Thank you for the show guys! 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fisalpine?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fisalpine</a> <a href="https://t.co/E76D7XF4O5">pic.twitter.com/E76D7XF4O5</a>
—@fisalpineNo one apart from Zubčić could even get close on Sunday, with Kranjec 2.26 seconds behind.
"When I came to the finish area I saw the gap, it was like two seconds in front of everybody, but I knew that Marco is on the start so I wasn't celebrating yet because you know this guy he's absolutely... crazy," said Zubčić, who made the podium for the first time in two years.
"I want to say congratulations to him because 99.9 per cent [of the time] with this run you win but today was not enough obviously."
The season-opening giant slalom at Soelden, Austria was abandoned.
It was a 26th World Cup victory for Odermatt and saw him increase his overall lead to 72 points ahead of Marco Schwarz, who was fourth on Sunday. He also moved 176 points above Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who finished a respectable 13th in a discipline the speed specialist often skips.
With files from CBC Sports
