Lucas Pinheiro Braathen claimed victory at the alpine ski World Cup giant slalom season opener in Sölden, Austria, finishing ahead of Switzerland’s Loic Meillard and Marco Odermatt, ORF reported. Competing on the Rettenbach glacier, Pinheiro Braathen navigated the shortened course and fluctuating weather conditions to secure his ninth career World Cup victory.
Pinheiro Braathen Sets the Pace on the Rettenbach Glacier
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen opened his campaign with a total time that edged out the competition on the Rettenbachferner. The giant slalom crystal globe winner crossed the finish line ahead of Loic Meillard by 0.48 seconds, according to ORF. Marco Odermatt finished just one hundredth of a second behind Meillard to take third place in his 200th World Cup appearance.
Reflecting on his performance after the race, Pinheiro Braathen emphasized his mental discipline on the course. I am really proud that I could start the new season with this skiing,
he told ORF. I am so grateful to everyone who helped make today such a super celebration.
Swiss Podiums and Tight Margins Behind the Winner
Loic Meillard acknowledged the historic difficulty of the Sölden venue after securing second place. Sölden hasn’t been very kind to me up until now, so I’m very glad it went so well this time,
Meillard said, as reported by ORF. It’s simply difficult to dare to push on this piste.
Marco Odermatt, who had won the previous year, climbed from fourth place after the first run to complete the podium. Marking his 103rd career podium, Odermatt expressed satisfaction with his aggressive approach in the second run. I attacked much more than in the first. That was my goal, and I believe it’s more important for me that this feeling is back,
Odermatt stated to ORF.
Austrian Team Reactions and Mixed Fortunes
Raphael Haaser delivered the standout performance for the Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV), surging in the final standings to finish fifth overall. Sitting in 20th position after the first run, Haaser posted the fastest time in the second leg to miss the podium by just 0.37 seconds behind American River Radamus, who took fourth. In the second run, there was more confidence, I trusted myself more,
Haaser noted in comments reported by LAOLA1. I skied better and more aggressively.
Stefan Brennsteiner experienced a sharp reversal of fortunes on the course. After finishing the morning run in third place, the Salzburg native struggled in the afternoon session and dropped to eleventh overall. Normally I feel pretty well what’s going on. Not now,
Brennsteiner admitted to ORF, expressing confusion over his lost speed in the steeper sections. Patrick Feurstein rounded out the top ten as the second-best Austrian finisher in tenth place.
Early Exit for Marco Schwarz and Team Assessments
Marco Schwarz’s campaign suffered a premature end when the Austrian contender missed a gate just four turns into his opening run. I think I wasn’t quite clean on the outside ski and maybe a bit too much on the inside ski, maybe the boot played a small part,
Schwarz told ORF. Despite the disappointment, Schwarz noted that the early misstep was already behind him.
ÖSV Alpine Director Christian Mitter offered a measured assessment of the weekend’s events across both squads. You can see that we have a team with the men. It wasn’t all that long ago when an exit from Schwarz would have left us very thin,
Mitter said, as detailed by LAOLA1. Mitter pointed to structural challenges within the women’s roster following recent injuries, while emphasizing that the coaching staff maintains a clear development plan.
German Contenders Find Footing in Sölden
Fabian Gratz led the German contingent with a sixth-place finish, marking the second-best result of his career. Competing through variable wind, visibility, and snow conditions, Gratz finished 0.46 seconds off the podium. You like to start the season like this,
Gratz remarked, according to Sport1, noting that summer training leaves athletes uncertain of their standing until the first gate drops.
Teammate Anton Grammel climbed from 30th to finish 15th following a strong final run, whereas Alexander Schmid slipped from ninth in the morning standings to place 21st at the finish.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Sölden Opener
Who won the opening giant slalom in Sölden? Lucas Pinheiro Braathen secured victory in the men’s season opener, finishing ahead of Loic Meillard and Marco Odermatt, according to ORF.
What was Marco Odermatt’s milestone at the Rettenbachferner? The Swiss racer competed in his 200th career World Cup race, claiming third place for his 103rd podium finish, as reported by ORF.
How did the German team perform in the opening race? Fabian Gratz achieved the second-best result of his career by finishing sixth, while Anton Grammel climbed to 15th and Alexander Schmid placed 21st, Sport1 reported.
The alpine ski World Cup circuit pauses before resuming competition with upcoming slalom events scheduled in Levi, Finland, in late November.
