Marco Odermatt wins first giant slalom in Alta Badia, distant Italians
Marco Odermatt wins first giant in Alta Badia, distant blue
Marco Odermatt triumphs in Alta Badia as well, on a Gran Risa pulled up to a shine, despite a Filip Zubcic in stratospheric form: in La Villa (Bolzano), the Swiss World Cup holder puts in his fifth consecutive giant slalom victory, also considering the last three races of last season, confirming his number one position among the wide gates.
To put in his bag victory number twenty-six in his career Odermatt had to però hold off a bubbly Zubcic who tried to complicate the day for the’Helvetic since the first run, closed in his wake.
In the decisive downhill, the Croatian seemed to have pulled off the perfect run, but Odermatt with a time of 2’29”23 was still able to beat him by 19 hundredths.
On the third step of the Dolomite podium climbs Slovenian Zan Kranjec with a gap of 2“26, which suggests the difference in pace of the two main protagonists of the day. Fourth place then for Austria’s Marco Schwarz (+2”54) with fifth Andorran Joan Verdu (+2”67) confirming himself in the upper echelons of the giant slope rankings after the historic podium in Val d’Isere.
Giovanni Borsotti è the best of the Italians with the 14th time, 4”09 from Odermatt. The Piedmontese after an’excellent first run (10th time with bib 22) leaves some positions on the ground in the second run. Reverse path instead for Alex Vinatzer. The Gardena native continues his growth path in the giant slalom and finishes 19th (+4”72) with a decisive run that allows him to gain nine positions in the ranking; in points also Hannes Zingerle, 24th at 6”32.
Out in the second heat instead came Filippo Della Vite, 14th halfway through the race and slipped on the Gran Risa ice. Similar fate in the first heat for Luca De Aliprandini.
On Monday, Dec. 18 in Alta Badia è a new giant slalom is scheduled, with the first run at 10 a.m. and the second at 1:30 p.m.
“I could have done something more – commented Giovanni Borsotti – I would have liked to get to the finish line in front of everyone. I have to find the right balance to complete a run well in both the spinning and technical sections. The track è perfect, really: tomorrow I definitely aim to improve myself”.
More progress in the giant for Alex Vinatzer: “In the first run I fought, it was pretty tough. In the second one I gassed up a little bit’ going down the clean slope. I’m still a little bit’ behind the front runners but I’m working and growing: top day today, let’s see the giant tomorrow”.
Regret for Filippo Della Vite: “Too bad, I had found a good rhythm and a good feeling. When I attack I can express myself at my best: I have to convince myself to always attack, already from tomorrow, despite these last two outings”.
Press Release FISI
