Marco Odermatt Secures Remarkable 12th Consecutive Giant Slalom Victory in World Cup – Sky Bulletin
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In an extraordinary show of resilience, Marco Odermatt staged a remarkable comeback in his second run to claim his 12th World Cup giant slalom win in succession on Saturday in ASPEN, Colo., despite initial setbacks.
The 26-year-old Swiss sensation, who has won both the overall and GS titles this season, edged closer to Ingemar Stenmark’s all-time record of 14 consecutive single-event victories set over four decades ago.
As the current Olympic gold medalist and world champion in giant slalom, Odermatt has enjoyed an unbeaten run of 9-0 in this season’s events, following three consecutive wins from the previous season. Completing his run on Aspen’s Strawpile slope in 2 minutes, 3.20 seconds, he battled through 25 mph (40 kph) winds.
Odermatt’s overall time outpaced Swiss teammate Loic Meillard by 0.34 seconds and was 0.58 seconds ahead of Norway’s Timon Haugan.
The victory marks Odermatt’s 13th of the season across all disciplines, equalling his own record from the previous year and tying the men’s record for most seasonal wins, a title he holds alongside Stenmark, Hermann Maier, and Marcel Hirscher.
Starting the day in third after the opening run, trailing Norway’s Alexander Steen Olsen by 0.22 seconds, Odermatt expressed the “pressure” his winning streak has imposed. “To win races, you really have to push and take the risk,” he conceded. “But if you won 11 races in a row, you can’t risk it all every time. You really have to ski smart. I skied probably too smart in the first round, so I really have to attack and take the risk in the second one.”
And attack he did, despite making an early error which cost him time. Unperturbed, Odermatt made a gutsy recovery, and by the end of his run, the relief and exhaustion were visible as he leaned on some signage, shaking his head in disbelief at his performance.
His teammate Meillard, who had the second-fastest first round, was unable to beat Odermatt’s time. Meanwhile, Steen Olsen suffered an even graver mistake, nearly crashing out and finishing 17th, over 2.5 seconds slower than Odermatt.
Having secured his third overall title last weekend in California’s Palisades Tahoe, and the GS title on Friday, Odermatt also leads the downhill and super-G World Cup standings.
The World Cup event in Aspen wraps up with a slalom on Sunday.
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FAQs
- How many consecutive World Cup giant slalom wins does Marco Odermatt now have?
- Who holds the record for the most consecutive World Cup wins in one event?
- What achievement did Odermatt match with his 13th win of the season?
- Who was in the lead after the first run in this race?
- What is the significance of this win for Odermatt?
Marco Odermatt has won 12 consecutive World Cup giant slalom races.
Ingemar Stenmark holds the record with 14 consecutive World Cup wins in one event.
With his 13th win of the season, Odermatt matched the men’s record for the most seasonal wins.
Alexander Steen Olsen of Norway was leading after the first run.
This win is significant for Odermatt as it not only extends his winning streak but also ties him with other legends with the most seasonal wins and demonstrates his exceptional skill in giant slalom.
Conclusion
Marco Odermatt’s incredible comeback on his second run in the World Cup giant slalom in Aspen, Colorado confirms his status as a skiing sensation. His relentless pursuit to push his limits and ski smartly led to a well-deserved victory that keeps him in the running to break Stenmark’s historic record. As he continues to dominate the skiing world with his skill, courage, and strategic finesse, all eyes are on Odermatt to see if he can achieve new milestones and further etch his name in the annals of alpine skiing history.
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