Marco Odermatt storms to giant slalom win in Val d'Isere, Andora's Joan Verdu makes history
BySportsbeat
Updated 09/12/2023 at 16:26 GMT
The overall champion Marco Odermatt is up and running for the new season as Joan Verdu makes history for Andorra. Odrmatt extended his early lead by the end of the second run, finishing 0.98 seconds ahead of Austria's Marco Schwarz, with Andorra's Verdu completing the podium on a historic day for sport in the country. No Andorran skier had ever finished in the top ten of a World Cup event.
Odermatt takes the win at Val d'Isere as Verdu secures first top 10 finish with a podium
Marco Odermatt cruised to his first FIS Alpine Ski World Cup win of the season as he finished nearly a second clear in the giant slalom in Val d'Isere.
The Swiss skier, who has won the overall crystal globe in each of the last two seasons, led by 0.65 seconds from Henrik Kristoffersen at the halfway stage.
He extended that lead by the end of the second run, finishing 0.98 seconds ahead of Austria's Marco Schwarz, with Andorra's Joan Verdu completing the podium on a historic day for sport in the country.
No Andorran skier had ever finished in the top ten of a World Cup event, but Verdu not only achieved that, but even cracked the top three after backing up his first run where he sat fifth at halfway.
Schwarz sat one place above him after the first run, and was able to extend that advantage as he finished second, but not one could come close to Odermatt.
Even in trickier conditions second time around, he had a huge margin for error, and was able to ease to the win, with this just the second completed event on the men's side this season due to weather conditions.
The skiers will be back in action on Sunday in the slalom.
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