Sölden Giant to Marco Odermatt, Alex Vinatzer rears his head again

Great show on the Rettenbach for the men’s giant in Sölden, which went to Marco Odermatt for the 46th time. The Swiss won with a time of 1’56”03, just 24 hundredths ahead of a rediscovered Marco Schwarz. Only three hundredths more it took Norwegian Atle Lie McGrath to take the third step of the podium, thanks to a four-position comeback. Despite the wind, which forced the organizers to lower the start, and the snow and fog that delayed the second run by one’hour, there was no shortage of entertainment, also guaranteed by the Azzurri who took part in the race.

Excellent second run for example was that of Alex Vinatzer, who improved dramatically from last season’s finish and began in the best possible way his run to the Olympics by taking eighth place overall. This is his third best career result in the specialty, 1”02 behind Odermatt, but up 13 places from 21st place in the first run.

“The wall l’ve skied really well,” said Vinatzer. “I thought I took a good throw for the finish, but I saw that I still left something too much behind. Compared to last season there are steps forward so it”s good for now.

He lost four positions in the second Luca De Aliprandini, who was unlucky with the visibility that penalized him in both heats, and finished in 22nd place at 2”14 from the winner. “With these conditions it is difficult to have good feelings,” De Aliprandini said, “The result makes me a little bit’angry. We have time to train before the American races. I will keep working”.