After ten consecutive giants finished off the podium, Alexis Pinturault has finally broken the curse. The Frenchman finished second to the giant of Kranjska Gora (Slovenia) on Saturday. A first since January 2022. Only the Swiss Marco Odermatt beat him, by 23 hundredths of a second. The world and Olympic champion in the specialty takes a step closer to the big crystal globe. His first pursuer in the general classification, the Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, is not present this weekend in Slovenia.
If this is the tenth victory of the winter for the Swiss, Alexis Pinturault has only been on the podium for the second time in the World Cup. The Frenchman finished third in the super-G in Beaver Creek (United States) in December. Fifth on the first track of the giant on Saturday, it was especially during the second round that the rider from Courchevel shone. The 31-year-old skier set the second fastest time on the second course. Insufficient, however, to stop the machine Marco Odermatt, mentally solid after setting the best time in the first race.
The Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen completed the podium, 37 hundredths of a second behind the winner. The second place acquired by “Pintu” confirms his return to form. Since his big crystal globe in 2021, the Frenchman was struggling to regain his feelings. But during the Courchevel World Championships in February, he showed a very high level.
Odermatt sovereign
At home, Alexis Pinturault won the bronze medal in the super-G, but especially the gold in the combined. Thanks to his first giant podium in ten races on the world circuit, the Frenchman continues. A new breath for him, before starting the last turn of his career. He has already announced that he will focus more on speed events next winter (downhill and super-G).
For the leader of the general classification and winner of the big crystal globe 2022, everything is fine. With this victory, Marco Odermatt is heading straight for a new title. The Swiss can be sure to retain his title on Sunday, on the occasion of another giant in the Slovenian station. At 25, he signed his 21st World Cup victory on Saturday.