Marco Odermatt is back in business in a big way. The Nidwalden, who was eliminated during the first two giants of the season, is in the lead in Val d’Isère after the first round. He is ahead of Henrik Kristoffersen by 0″15. Loïc Meillard 3rd and Thomas Tumler 6th are placed.
Under the snow, Odermatt made the difference at the bottom of the course, after a cautious start. The reigning Olympic champion and world giant champion took back 29 hundredths from Henrik Kristoffersen in the last ten seconds of the race.
Never better classified than 5th in giant on the Face de Bellevarde, Loïc Meillard is 0”32 behind his leader. The skier from Hérémence made just one small mistake, without which he would probably have achieved the 2nd time. But victory remains within his reach.
Tumler at 0″74
Beaver Creek hero Thomas Tumler, however, does not seem able to fight for victory. The Grison, who celebrated his first World Cup success at the age of 35 last Sunday in the giant contested in Colorado, is 0”74 behind Odermatt. Gino Caviezel is 14th at 1”54.
Note that the neo-Brazilian Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, leader of the Giant World Cup, missed his job to concede 2”35. He occupies 21st place.
ats/pc
Swiss
