Henrik Kristoffersen led the way after the opening run of the men’s World Cup giant slalom at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, on Saturday. Clocking 1 minute 10.73 seconds, the Norwegian skier looked to reclaim his dominance on this course, where he last triumphed in March 2022. This performance came amid a disappointing World Championships, where Kristoffersen struggled to defend his slalom title.
Instantly behind, the Swiss contender Marco Odermatt, who had established himself as the super-G champion at the World Championships last month, finished just 0.15 seconds off Kristoffersen's pace. The competition is heating up as both skiers have been highly successful on the Podkoren course, each registering three victories across the last six giant slalom races since 2019.
Kristoffersen's strong showing reflects his determination to win, aiming for his first giant slalom victory since his previous win here. "I aim for my first win in the discipline since triumphing here in March 2022," Kristoffersen stated, highlighting his resolve to succeed this time around.
Third place was claimed by Joan Verdu of Andorra, who had time to recover with 0.52 seconds to make up behind Kristoffersen as he heads to the second leg of the race. While Kristoffersen maintained his position as the frontrunner, his performance set an intense tone for the challenging conditions of Kranjska Gora. The second run is set to kick off at 1130 GMT today, keeping spectators on edge.
Looking back at the leaders, Odermatt's consistency places him squarely as the overall leader coming from his recent achievements. While Kristoffersen fights to close the gap—being just 81 points behind—it's clear every second will count as they battle not only for the win but also as contenders for the giant slalom crystal globe.
The day is filled with anticipation as other competitors, like Loïc Meillard currently sitting precariously at sixth place, remain close behind, eager to make their mark. Notably, Raphael Haaser, the reigning giant slalom world champion and the best-ranked Austrian, holds eighth position but trails by more than one second. The Austrian team, already enduring its longest winless streak since 1991-92, hopes for redemption but has struggled to find victory since Manuel Feller last won back in February 2024.
Kristoffersen and Odermatt seem poised to dominate again, yet the likes of Verdu and Haaser represent real threats, with their strong showings recently adding pressure to the established leaders. The die is cast for what's turning out to be another thrilling race day, with Kranjska Gora poised to draw the world’s attention as alpine skiing fans eagerly await the adrenaline of the second leg.
So who will take home the win? The stakes couldn't be higher on the Podkoren course as these elite athletes face both the clock and one another. Fans will be glued to their screens, waiting to see if Kristoffersen can maintain or expand his lead over the competition or if Odermatt can come back to claim his position yet again.