This is the Whatsapp message from one of his friends who, on Wednesday morning, told Marco Odermatt that the Austrian Marcel Hirscher (35), winner of the general classification of the World Cup eight times, would be making his return to competition after a five-year “retirement”, but this time under his mother’s Dutch flag. Odermatt summarized Blick the feelings he felt.
“At first, I thought it was a joke,” explains the 26-year-old Nidwalden. But after reading the whole story, I realized it wasn’t a late April Fool’s joke.”
And what does he think of this return? “I think it’s cool that Marcel Hirscher is coming back. It’s fantastic for the international reputation of skiing, especially since he’s going to be lining up for the Netherlands.”
The winner of the last three major Globes, however, knows that he will have the pressure on his shoulders with the return of the Austrian. “In fact, I have everything to lose in this duel against Hirscher,” confirms Odermatt. He backs up his words: “I have often been asked in recent years who was the greatest runner: Hirscher or me? If, while I am in the best phase of my career, I were to be slower than Hirscher who is coming back from retirement, the answer to this question would not speak in my favor.
But Marco Odermatt does not have to particularly fear the return of Marcel Hirscher. He had indeed finished ahead of the Austrian during the last two giants of the 2018/2019 World Cup – the Swiss had finished 3rd and 2nd, the Austrian twice 6th. And at that time, Odermatt was not yet the ogre he became, while Hirscher was still one of the monsters of the White Circus.
That said, Odermatt expects Hirscher to be competitive: “He has done plenty of testing and training with Henrik Kristoffersen for the brand he developed (Van Deer). And, unlike me, he hasn’t experienced the stress of competition lately.
The reunion between Odermatt and Hirscher is scheduled for the end of the year. They already promise!
