Raphael Haaser surprisingly wins giant slalom gold with great cheers from the Austrian home audience. The German Anton Grammel also drives heavily.
In the morning there was still snow at the Alpine Ski World Cup in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, but on time for decision in the giant slalom on Friday afternoon (February 14, 2025) it was cleared. In the sunshine, the strongest giant slalom drivers in the world fought for the title on the “Schneekristall” race track in Hinterglemm.
It seemed as if the Austrian weather god already suspected something from the holiday, which was supposed to overrun the target stadium and the recently plagued ski country. Raphael Haaser, who was second in the Super-G at the World Cup in Saalbach-Hinterglemm a week ago, but had never reached a World Cup podium in the giant slalom, secured the World Cup title with a magnificent performance-and hit it so strongly Swiss a snap. “Incredible, I don’t know what to say”said Haaser, who has not yet won a race in the World Cup.
Odermatt, Meillard or Haugan – Who stops Haaser?
But from the front – the field was ordered for the elite: good view, good conditions, so the best conditions for an exciting race for the World Cup crown. The Swiss Marco Odermatt, defending champion, Olympic champion and World Cup dominator went into the decision as a half-time press, just behind Timon Haugan from Norway and the second Loic Meillard.
Odermatt therefore had to present: against the brilliant time of the leading Haaser, who had driven in fifth place with the late start number 22 in the first run and now conjured up a flash -fast journey into the snow again. When Haaser reached the goal, it became really loud and shaky in the opulent target stadium of Hinterglemm. Time for a loud, time for a wild decision, time for an exciting decision.
Haaser shakes his head – and beats the Swiss
And an Austrian was finally in the middle of it-balm for the soul of the ski nation so plagued this season, which will find strength in the days of Saalbach-Hinterglemm and has already won its sixth medal.
Odermatt started, but already built a mistake at the top, and then had to fight further. Under the great cheer of the Austrian followers, he fell directly from the medal ranks. And Meillard and Haugan also bite her teeth at Haaser’s time, Haaser shook his head on the leader’s armchair at the finish line, he could not believe this performance himself – and the audience celebrated him frenetically.
Haaser’s sister Ricarda tore the cruciate ligament at the World Cup
What were the 27-year-old Haaser, who went into the race as an outsider, for brilliant runs that day. In front of the World Cup, the Innsbrucker had to pause for six weeks, and his silver coup in the Super-G was surprising.
Freud and suffering are closely related in the family at the World Cup: Haaser’s sister Ricarda had torn the cruciate ligament at the women’s super-G in Saalbach-Hinterglemm.
Meillard and Tumler save Swiss honor with further medals
The Austrian broke through the Swiss Phalanx: Because until Friday, the World Cup in Saalbach-Hinterglemm was a pure world championship of the Confederates among the men-with three gold medals in previously three men’s races.
This next title was almost expected of Odermatt, who was already securing the Super-G victory in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. Now, however, compatriots Thomas Tumler (+ 0.23 seconds) and Loic Meillard (+ 0.51) silver and bronze secured silver and Loic Meillard in the shadow of Haasers Odermats. In total, the Swiss have already generated ten medals with two outstanding decisions.
German ski racer Grammel with the strongest term
The three German ski racers Anton Grammel, Jonas Stockinger and Fabian Gratz, on the other hand, were only granted outsider chances in the World Cup giant slalom, they have not yet achieved a top ten result in the World Cup winter. But Grammel then surprised with a furious second run including the strongest term. He had led for a long time, in the end he became more twelfth, among other things in front of the world-class driver Filip Zubcic or Lucas Pinheiro.
“It couldn’t be better”said the 26-year-old afterwards on ZDF. “I was able to implement exactly what I decided that I drive brutally downhill and do not swing left and right.”
Overjoyed Grammel gives hope for more
He is very happy to take this experience with him – for the first time, and was also allowed to take a seat on the Leader’s Chair for a long time: “I said to the man from FIS: ‘Finally, I waited a long time that I can sit on it.'” He now wants to take this tailwind together with the team for the next few years. For three, Grammel, Gratz – at the end of 18th – and Stockinger (26th) at the finish line at the management chair.
The last German giant slalom world championship title so far was 40 years ago. In 1985 Markus Wasmeier won in Bormio World Cup gold. Since then, there has also been no World Cup medal in this discipline for German men. But Grammel’s performance – this furious second run gives hope for more.