World Cup in downhill skiing – Schladming
1.+2. men’s giant slalom round:
Swiss skier Loic Meillard became the winner of the night giant slalom of the World Cup in Schladming.
He triumphed in the Austrian center with a significant lead of 73 hundredths ahead of the Brazilian representative Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, third was the young Frenchman Alban Elezi Cannaferina, who enjoyed the first podium position in his career (+0.90).
Slovak representative Andreas Žampa achieved the best result of the season when he took 24th place (+5.41). His brother Adam did not finish the first round.
After the 1st round, Pinheiro Braathen, a Norwegian riding in Brazilian colors, took the lead, leading by 6 hundredths ahead of Meillard.
However, in the 2nd round, the Swiss clearly surpassed his opponent and celebrated the ninth victory in his career in the WC, the sixth of which in the most technically demanding alpine discipline.
“I’m satisfied, these conditions suit me. I ride best on an icy track,” 29-year-old Meillard told ORF after his second triumph of the season.
“Obrák” won for the second time in Schladming, he also celebrated the championship in this resort three years ago.
The best second run was performed by 22-year-old Elezi Cannaferina, who rose from eighth position after the 1st round to the podium.
The leader of the overall standings and the interim evaluation of the discipline, Marco Odermatt from Switzerland, did not avoid mistakes in both rounds on the Planai slope and finished in fourth place with a deficit of 1.26 s to the winner.
Andreas tuned up to the Olympics with a season high
Andreas Žampa showed a smooth ride in the opening lap with starting number 47, he managed to time the curves precisely and with a slight hesitation he managed even the critical place in the lower part on the slope break.
In the end, he barely fit into the top 30 and made it to the 2nd round for the second time in the season, recording the 29th time (+2.96). He advanced last together with Alexis Pinturault, who achieved an identical time.
In the 2nd round, Andreas Žampa started second in the order and used the intact track. He drove more forcefully than the legendary Frenchman, accelerated further down the stretch and took the lead by 22 hundredths.
His time was surpassed only by Jonas Stockinger from Germany, 26th after the 1st round. Finally, the Slovak representative improved by five rungs compared to the first run, and achieved the best position of the season. He got seven points for 24th place.
He added them to the three he conquered in the glacial overture in Sölden (28th). He got in a good mood before the 2026 Olympics, where he will be the only Slovak male representative in alpine skiing.
His brother Adam Žampa, number 61, crashed out in the 1st round about halfway down the course after slipping on his inner ski. He still squeezed into the nearest gate, but he couldn’t fit into the next one and didn’t finish his ride.
