Alexis Pinturault second from the giant of Kranjska Gora, Marco Odermatt wins and secures a second big crystal globe

The wait was long, but what a beautiful deliverance! More than a year after his last podium as a giant, Alexis Pinturault found the box in the World Cup, winning second place in Kranjska Gora (Slovenia), Saturday March 11. Author of a huge second run, he finished (+0”23) just behind Marco Odermatt. Henrik Kristoffersen (+0”37) completes the podium. With this tenth success this season, the Swiss genius is sure to win a second big crystal globe in a row.

On a route made by Romain Vélez, one of the coaches of the France team, the winner of the World Cup in 2021 confirmed his return to form at the end of the season. Started very well during the second round, after setting the fifth fastest time in the first heat (+0”80), he continued to increase his lead, before making a small error at the end which certainly cost him a few hundredths down the line.

A fault which would certainly have upset the Savoyard a few years ago, but which seems very ridiculous today. Because the time is indeed not for regrets for the “Beast” of Moûtiers, quite the contrary. After the more than successful Courchevel-Méribel worlds, he is back in the shoes of a serious outsider for the Soldeu finals. His 76th World Cup podium in his pocket, “Pintu” ends the season in style, before probably embarking on new challenges, at speed, next season. What, above all, to alleviate the regrets of a frankly frustrating season until the end of January.

Odermatt, victory and the big globe

Big favorite in Kranjska Gora, Marco Odermatt, for his part, did not hesitate to win for the 21st time in his career. With 1726 points overall, he scored twice and unofficially bought his second big crystal globe. His runner-up Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (1240 points), having announced his withdrawal for this weekend in Slovenia, will no longer be able to catch up with his Swiss rival when there are four races left and 400 points to distribute in the finals of Soldeu (Andorra) the next week.

Put under pressure by Alexis Pinturault, the Olympic champion and double world champion once again showed why he was the undisputed boss of the circuit. And at 25, his reign has only just begun.