Marco Odermatt continued his triumphant campaign in the World Cup Alpine skiing circuit with a stunning victory on the famous Gran Risa slope in Alta Badia. This win marks Odermatt's 41st career success, his fourth of the season, and fifth overall at this iconic venue.
On December 22, 2024, the Swiss skier demonstrated his dominance by completing the Giant Slalom with an impressive time of 2:31.45. His performance left little doubt about his ambitions this season, clearly aiming for his fourth consecutive World Cup title, which would add to his already impressive resume of Olympic gold and two world championship titles, all at just 27 years old.
"Nella seconda manche ho potuto spingere davvero forte, è stata una gara fantastica. Questi giorni in Italia sono stati splendidi," said Odermatt, reflecting his excitement after the race. His skill shone particularly bright during the second run, where he pushed hard against the clock and his competitors.
Completing the podium alongside Odermatt were French skier Leo Anguenot and Norwegian skier Alexander Steen Olsen, who finished almost one second behind the dominant Swiss. Anguenot and Steen Olsen’s births added to the depth of competition but were not enough to threaten Odermatt’s lead.
For Italy, it was Alex Vinatzer who stood out, finishing eighth after making a remarkable comeback. He moved up 16 positions after overcoming challenges from the first run, which placed him at 24th due to initial mistakes. "Peccato per quell’errore iniziale, ma sono soddisfatto della mia prestazione," said Vinatzer post-race, expressing both disappointment and satisfaction.
On the other hand, Luca De Aliprandini struggled with his performance, finishing thirteenth after missteps during the second run derailed his chances for a top finish. This spotty performance indicates the high stakes and technical demands of the Giant Slalom events.
While the men’s Giant Slalom completed successfully, the day was marred by the cancellation of the second women’s Super-G scheduled at St. Moritz due to bad weather. This decision upset both organizers and competitors, especially after promising performances from the Italian women, including Sofia Goggia, who had recently secured podium finishes.
This cancellation fits within a troubling trend; it marks the third women’s event recently wiped off the schedule, adding mounting pressure to the athletes and organizers. With world championships looming, it remains unclear if and when these events will be rescheduled. The next opportunity for Italian female skiers will come on January 28-29 at Semmering, Austria, where they will compete in Giant and Slalom disciplines.
On the horizon, the Alta Badia is set to host the men’s slalom, closing out this Dolomite World Cup stage with high anticipation for thrilling performances from the athletes.
