He long believed in final victory, until the passage of the Swiss Marco Odermatt, imperial on the Gran Risa. Ninth after the first round of the giant slalom at Alta Badia (Italy), counting for the Alpine Ski World Cup, the Frenchman Léo Anguenot finally lost by 85/100e facing the master of the discipline, winner for the fifth time in the Italian Tyrol. The Norwegian Alexander Steen Olsen completes the podium, at 88/100e you Nidwaldia.
With this second place, the 26-year-old skier from La Clusaz (Haute-Savoie), whose best result until then was 13e place in Aspen (United States) in March 2023, rises to eleventh place in the Giant Slalom World Cup rankings. This will allow him to have a better bib at the start of the next race, synonymous with better conditions on the track.
“Finding myself alongside Marco [Odermatt] and Alex [Alexander Steen Olsen]it's crazy. It's a dream come true, reacted Léo Anguenot, speaking to Eurosport after the race. When I was little, I dreamed of getting on a podium. Now there is one more step to take, after the 2e place is to go for a victory. I'm going to make the most of it because it's incredible.”continued the native of Annecy.
Before pursuing a career in alpine skiing, Léo Anguenot has the distinction of having shone for a long time in water skiing, a discipline where he won national and European titles in the youth categories.
Odermatt, 41e career victory
For his part, Marco Odermatt, thanks to this 41e victory of his career in the World Cup – the fourth in a row on the Alta Badia track – overtook his illustrious compatriot Pirmin Zurbriggen, whom he had equaled the day before by winning the downhill in Val Gardena (Italy).
“Odi”, winner of the big globe of the last three editions of the World Cup, consolidated his first place in the general ranking. He now has 121 points ahead of Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen, only 9e Sunday in Tyrol.
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For his return to Alta Badia, where he won in 2020, Alexis Pinturault, seriously injured in a knee last winter, ranked 23ethree seconds behind Odermatt. Two other French people, Diego Orecchioni and Thibaut Favrot, took part in this second round, finishing 27th respectively.e et 10e. The second, 27e after the first round, made an impressive leap forward by setting the best time on the second track, tied with Odermatt.
