Alexis Pinturault found, Saturday, the French public. The winner of the general classification of the World Cup in 2021 had to settle for the second place, behind Switzerland Marco Odermatt, absolute leader this season.
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As captivating as worry, the Bellevarde face has draped fresh snow, as if its vertiginous slope – 32% average over its entire length – was not enough to guarantee the show. In Val d’Isère, the giant slalom specialists had an appointment on Saturday, December 11, with a major step of the World Cup where uncertainty often reigns. Because the Savoyard station drags a heavy passive in recent years between lack of snow, snow too abundant or wind too strong: eight races were canceled on the 15 last three seasons.
In difficult weather conditions, this stage marked the return on the hex routes of the blue heroes of last winter. Alexis Pinturault, winner of the big globe rewarding the world’s number of all alpine ski disciplines, and Mathieu Faivre, the giant world champion, also found French supporters, after a complete season in camera.
On its lands, Alexis Pinturault offered second place, behind the absolute leader this season in this giant discipline, Switzerland Marco Odermatt, while Mathieu Faivre finished out of the podium, at eighth place.
A chart from Franco-Swiss at the top
At the first handle, Alexis Pinturault passed the second time. The native of Moutiers has been awarded 32 hundredths of a second by Marco Odermatt, the Croatian Filip Zubcic being third at 33/100. The three skiers dug the gap on competition and especially the world champion, Mathieu Faivre, fourth at 85/100.
“I did not feel too badly in view of the conditions and visibility. The track is like usual, and then the snow is difficult because it changes enormously. So, we are a little on eggs And for all that, you have to create speed, emphasized Pinturault after a first demanding handle, on a trail degrading quickly. Everything remains to be done in the second, I am in the right wagon, that’s the essential. It will be A beautiful fight. I hope the light will be better “,
A word to qualify the first round of @Alexpinturault to @VALDIERE: “Solid!” 👊🏻 ➡️ @ eurosport_en … https://t.co/t9zdlt0jtz
Marco Odermatt untenable
The French skier, who had already shone in Val d’Isère, win twice the giant slalom and twice the slalom (on three victories in total in his career on this discipline), approached this second round in ambush behind Marco Odermatt.
The Frenchman managed his second race to take, temporarily, the orders of this giant. But Marco Odermatt is untouchable this season and the Swiss skier adjudged the test without shaking.
It gives French of 59 hundredths and confirms its sparkling shape: three wins and a podium in six races disputed this season. The Austrian Manuel Feller complete the podium. Fourth of the first round, Matthieu Faivre did not confirm and finished eighth and Victor Muffat-JeanDet wrap up the eleventh place.
Marco Odermatt stands out in front of Alexis Pinturault! 💥 Impressive Mastery, Switzerland wins the giant Val … https://t.co/ksmmsnrwbd
With this victory, Marco Odermatt strengthens his quest for the big crystal globe. Sixth of the overall rankings after the American tours and before this appointment of Val d’Isère, Alexis Pinturault went back to fourth place.