If Henrik Kristoffersen was able to believe in victory this Saturday at Palisades Tahoe, Marco Odermatt was able to show himself the strongest to win a tenth consecutive giant in the World Cup. The Swiss can no longer be joined in the general classification.
Marco Odermatt already has one less thing to worry about. Arriving in Palisades Tahoe as the undisputed leader of the Alpine Ski World Cup, the Swiss was able to do what was necessary to secure a third big Crystal Globe this Saturday. On the Red Dog track, the native of Buochs took control from the first round, making the most of his number 2 bib. However, Henrik Kristoffersen was determined to thwart the plans of the boss of the discipline by only being behind by fifteen hundredths at the end of this first route. The American public, for its part, was able to be enthusiastic about the performance of River Radamus, third with a delay of less than eight tenths of a second.
While the second round first saw the comebacks of Alexander Steen Olsen, who went from 25th to 9th place, and Lukas Feurstein, who entered the Top 10 after finishing in 26th position during the first route. , the fight for victory was intense. Having made no secret of his intention to secure a podium at home, River Radamus did not take the slightest risk, saving his third place by thirteen hundredths against Thomas Tumler. Immediately, Henrik Kristoffersen went on the offensive to put Marco Odermatt under pressure.
Odermatt created suspense
With the fifth time of the round, three tenths behind his compatriot Atle Lie McGrath, the Norwegian achieved his goal. And the possibility of victory appeared when Marco Odermatt took to the track. Indeed, after pushing his rival back three tenths at the first intermediate, the Swiss lost ground to be 18 hundredths of a second behind at the last intermediate. However, in the last eleven seconds of the race, the skier from Hergiswil achieved the impossible by gaining three tenths from Henrik Kristoffersen. With a margin of twelve hundredths of a second, Marco Odermatt signs a tenth victory in a row in giant slalom. On the French side, Thibaut Favrot finished 18th place having not progressed in the hierarchy between the first and second rounds.
Léo Anguenot, for his part, was able to gain five positions during the second route and finished in 21st place. Victor Muffat-Jeandet and Clément Noël, 45th and 53rd respectively, had not passed the first round. Now 1001 points ahead of Manuel Feller, only eighth at Palisades Tahoe, Marco Odermatt is mathematically no longer able to be caught up in the general ranking of the World Cup. During the finals organized in Saalbach, Marco Odermatt will be able to take possession of his third big Crystal Globe in three seasons.
ALPINE SKIING – WORLD CUP (M) / PALISADES TAHOE GIANT
Final ranking – Saturday February 24, 2024
1- Marco Odermatt (SUI) in 2’11”69
2- Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) at 0”12
3- River Radamus (USA) at 1”37
4- Thomas Tumler (SUI) at 1”50
5- Gino Caviezel (SUI) at 1”77
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18- Thibaut Favrot (FRA) at 2”71
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21- Léo Anguenot (FRA) at 2”93
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General classification of the World Cup
1- Marco Odermatt (SUI) 1702 points
2- Manuel Feller (AUT) 701
3- Cyprien Sarrazin (FRA) 684
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Giant World Cup standings
1- Marco Odermatt (SUI) 700 points
2- Filip Zubcic (CRO) 314
3- Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) 298
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18- Thibaut Favrot (FRA) 98
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