Marco Odermatt wins season-opening World Cup giant slalom in Soelden

Odermatt claims third career World Cup win in giant slalom

Odermatt wins ahead of Pinturault and Kristoffersen

Soelden, Austria – Swiss skier Marco Odermatt won the season-opening World Cup giant slalom in Soelden on Sunday, October 23, 2022. Odermatt finished in a combined time of 2 minutes and 38.54 seconds, 0.38 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Alexis Pinturault of France.

Odermatt, who won the World Cup giant slalom title last season, started the race with a strong first run, posting the fastest time of 1 minute and 19.12 seconds. He then held on in the second run to secure the victory.

Pinturault, who won the giant slalom in Soelden in 2020, finished in a combined time of 2:38.92. Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway finished third in a combined time of 2:39.03.

Odermatt's victory is his third career World Cup win in giant slalom. He also won the giant slalom in Adelboden, Switzerland, in January 2022, and in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, in March 2022.

The win in Soelden gives Odermatt an early lead in the World Cup giant slalom standings. Pinturault is second in the standings, followed by Kristoffersen.

The next World Cup giant slalom race is scheduled for December 10-11, 2022, in Alta Badia, Italy.