Alexander Schmid got a good starting position in the giant slalom in Sölden in the first round. But like everyone else, he couldn’t keep up with top driver Marco Odermatt.
One day after the cancellation of the women’s giant slalom, the new winter sports season in Sölden has started. Because there was no rain on Sunday night (October 23, 2022), the men’s race could take place. With Alexander Schmid as Germany’s greatest hope.
Good conditions, good trip
“The conditions are amazing, they turned out really well. That’s surprising“said the 28-year-old, who started the race with number 12, before the start. “It’s very grippy and not icy at all. I think that will be very fair.”
During his first run, Schmid was not fully confirmed. “I am very happy with my ride and have been able to do what I set out to do. I can’t really explain the gap, maybe the track will slow down after all“, said Schmid, who finished 1.33 seconds behind Marco Odermatt. The Swiss lived up to his role as favorite and dominated the competition, especially on the steep slope.
With high hopes for the second round
In all probability, victory is out of reach for Schmid, but a place on the podium is still possible. The gap to third-placed Zan Kranjec is 0.64 seconds, Lucas Braathen was 0.92 seconds faster in second. “I’m sticking to my style and I know that I can do a few more things in the second round. I have nothing to lose“, said Schmid, who drove the tenth fastest time in the first run.
Sports show expert Felix Neureuther also trusts the DSV athlete in the second round (from 1 p.m., live on BR and in the live stream) to catch up a few places. “There could have been more, but it’s still okay. It can’t be that bad for the second round, starting a little earlier. You’ve seen the beginnings, they’re little things“, Neureuther said.
Returnee Luitz is eliminated
It was disappointing for Stefan Luitz. The 30-year-old struggled with the track and conditions and fell before the second split. After just a few seconds, however, Luitz was already 0.58 seconds behind and would have missed the second round.
“I felt really good and was looking forward to the race. I wanted to attack because the track is really good for that. I tried that, but of course it’s not a start like I imagined“said Luitz, who celebrated his comeback after a disc operation in December. “It’s been a hard way back, I’ve been gone a long time. It’s now a matter of getting in first. I feel good, but unfortunately I didn’t manage to ski.“
Only Schmid makes it in the second round
It wasn’t enough for the other DSV athletes to qualify for the second run either. Fabian Gratz (40./+3.09 seconds), Linus Strasser (44./+3.49 seconds), Julian Rauchfuss (58./+4.15 seconds) and Anton Grammel (61./+4.94 seconds). ) ended up with high start numbers at the back of the field.