He thwarted Manuel Feller’s debut victory in this discipline. The Tyrolean half-time leader was behind by 0.05 seconds, but finished second and made it onto the podium for the first time this season.
“An incredible atmosphere”
“It was an incredible race, an incredible atmosphere. I tried it, but there were just a few goals where I mightn’t take the final risk,” said Feller on ORF. Concerns regarding his future starting position were in the back of his mind during the night’s spectacle. “If I’m screwed, I’ll start outside the top 15 in the next giant slalom.”
Image: (GEPA pictures/ Harald Steiner)
His flagship discipline, slalom, is on the program on Wednesday (5:45 p.m./8:45 p.m., live on ORF 1). “If it’s another podium tomorrow, then it’ll be an incredible event. I’m doing quite well in the slalom. Of course, I’ll do everything I can to fight back and be on the podium,” announced the three-time season winner.
“Always hope for the best”
Odermatt, however, maintained his aura of invincibility this season with his eighth giant slalom victory in a row. He just regarding made up the second gap to Feller. “It shows once once more that you can never give up. Always hope for the best,” said Odermatt. “At the beginning of the season I had a bit of bad luck with the hundredths, now Kitzbühel and here good luck, it always evens out.” The Slovenian Zan Kranjec came third (+0.29).
In the absence of Marco Schwarz, who seriously injured his knee, only two other Austrians qualified for the second run in front of 17,900 enthusiastic fans. Raphael Haaser came 14th with his best result of the season, Stefan Brennsteiner 15th. For an ÖSV quintet around Patrick Feurstein and Fabio Gstrein it remained just one run.
Odermatt was under pressure following his first descent on Planai. It was only with difficulty that the high-flyer stayed on track set by his coach Helmut Krug following he slipped on his ski boots. “It’s a bit wet, a bit icy, a bit greasy,” said the Swiss followingwards, indicating that he hadn’t found the “perfect setup” for this difficult surface.
Shocking moment in the heart-stopping finale
For physical reasons, Feller had not completed giant slalom training since mid-December. He was all the more surprised by his own performance in the first run, shrugged his shoulders with a broad grin at the finish and then gave his service man a lot of praise. “The setup felt very good,” said the 31-year-old, before trying not to put too much of a burden on himself.
He had never led at halftime before; all five of his victories (three this season) had come in slalom. However, he would still “not go for everything to win” and would rather “show good skiing” once more, said Feller, who was no better than eleventh in the giant slalom in 2023/24. On the more twisty course run by former downhill skier Peter Fill, Feller was fast once more and, following surviving a moment of shock in the heart-stopping finale, had the “worse” end.
Image: (GEPA pictures/Harald Steiner)
Roland Leitinger said goodbye to the ski circuit before the “Grande Finale” in a partly neon yellow party outfit. The 2017 vice world champion and Schladming graduate was celebrated one last time in front of ski legends (Franz Bracket, Bernhard Russi, Luc Alphand) and political celebrities (Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner, State Governor Christopher Drexler). “I was a little amazed while driving because you get the atmosphere that you don’t normally get in the racing tunnel. Thanks to so many fans, thanks for the atmosphere,” said the man, who was often set back by injuries and was now gifted with a special ski Salzburg.
