Odermatt in Val Gardena in third place – Rogentin and Rösti in the top ten

Marco Odermatt also secured a podium place in the World Cup Super-G in Val Gardena. The man from Nidwalden takes third place behind the Italian Mattia Casse and the American Jared Goldberg.

Val Gardena, which means changing conditions over the course of the race and often surprising rankings. That was the case this time too.

Casse’s victory, his first in the World Cup, does not come out of the blue. The Italian had already indicated on the previous days with ranks 1 and 2 in the downhill training that he was ready for the special task on the Saslong.

Goldberg’s strong performance was more unexpected. He made sure that Casse had to tremble once again about his premiere. In the end, a hundredth of a second tipped the balance in favor of the Italian. The American, who started with number 26, took advantage of the improved conditions at the time to achieve his first podium finish in the World Cup.

Different conditions than in training

Unexpected things are always possible in Val Gardena because the Saslong does not offer the kind of terrain that would suit technically experienced drivers. The terrain does not allow setting a course with passages in which athletes like Odermatt could make the difference thanks to their strengths. A large part of the task could be completed while squatting.

The snow that fell on Friday night probably changed the conditions compared to the two downhill training sessions, but made the task even easier.

Fourth Val Gardena podium for Odermatt

Odermatt, winner of the first Super-G of this World Cup winter two weeks ago in completely different conditions in Beaver Creek, Colorado, has never been first on the 1970 World Cup course, but this third place is the fourth ranking among the first three in this place. Last year, the native of Switzerland also took third place in the first of two downhill runs and in the Super-G, and two years ago he came second in the first downhill run.

On Casse, Odermatt lost 43 hundredths. The Italian had achieved third place three times so far, for the first time two years ago with third place in the second downhill run in Val Gardena.

Rogentin and Rösti are convincing

Behind Odermatt was the no less surprising Fredrik Möller. The Norwegian had already indicated his abilities with fourth place in the Super-G in Beaver Creek. The second best Swiss was Stefan Rogentin. The Graubünden native shared 5th place with the Canadian Cameron Alexander.

Lars Rösti delivered the surprise of the day from a Swiss perspective. The Bernese Oberlander significantly increased his best in the World Cup with 8th place. Rösti, who was only competing in this discipline for the third time at this level, reached 15th place in the downhill at the season finale in Soldeu in Andorra almost six years ago.

World Cup points were also awarded to Justin Murisier for 15th place and Alexis Monney and Franjo von Allmen for 21st and 23rd place. Frenchman Cyprien Sarrazin was among those eliminated. Odermatt’s last greatest opponent in the speed area missed a goal. (ram/sda)