An unusual class difference: Loic Meillard leads in the first round at the giant slalom of Schladming and has distanced his compatriot Marco Odermatt far. The dominator needs a huge attack in the second run.
Meillard had driven directly to the 1 with start number 5, the competition bit the teeth on the soulful run of the 28-year-old. The strong Norwegians Alexander Steen Olsen (0.11 seconds behind) and Henrik Kristoffersen (+0.24 s) lurk in the second round directly behind the Swiss.
Again surprisingly far away is Marco Odermatt from the podium. The giant slalom winner of the past three years is in place with nine tenths behind in twelve and has to go to risk in the second round (from 8:15 p.m. in the live stream).
Luitz as the only German
The only German starts in the second round Stefan Luitz. The 32-year-old, who is not in the DSV squad and trains in the Global Racing Team, came over the finish line as 25th behind the finish line. The other German drivers did not cope on the soap route. Fabian Stockinger left after the first time, Anton Tremmel and Fabian Gratz drove the music significantly after over two seconds and were eliminated.
Nightrace comes wet and this is why
Rain, fog and mild temperatures made the traditional race again under floodlights. The organizers got the route in good condition at the beginning, but the piste had strong grooves after the first ten runners. At less than 50 seconds, the course was also significantly shorter than with other giant slalom races and no mistakes. The start had been relocated to escape the snow that would possibly be used up.
Marco Odermatt at the giant slalom in Schladming
Before Schladming: Odermatt in top shape
Marco Odermatt has been the giant gate duration burner this winter – if not quite as confident as in the previous year. In the 2023/24 season, he won all giant slalom races for the last three years to the end of the end in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. This season, Odermatt won three times in a row: in December in Val d’Esere, Alta Badia and in January at the home race in Adelboden.