Sunday October 24th 2021
Switzerland wins ahead of Austria
The DSV men also disappoint at the World Cup
Marco Odermatt sets the first World Cup fragrance brand: The only 24-year-old Swiss wins the start of the World Cup season by a razor thin layer ahead of his Austrian competitor, the local hero Roland Leitinger. Stefan Luitz is the best DSV athlete in the giant slalom in 17th place.
Ski racers Stefan Luitz and Alexander Schmid missed the top position they had hoped for at the start of the Alpine season. In the fifth World Cup victory of the Swiss Marco Odermatt in the spectacular giant slalom in Sölden, Luitz came in 17th, Schmid was 19th. Luitz (Bolsterlang) was 1.35 seconds behind, while Schmid was 1.53 seconds back.
“It will no longer be my favorite slope,” said Luitz about the demanding Rettenbach Glacier, which was rarely possible to ski in perfect conditions. After changing his ski brand, the Allgäu had to struggle especially on the steep slope. “I have to make sure that I’m the boss – and not ski with me,” said the 29-year-old.
Schmid (27) had to struggle with problems with the quadriceps tendon in the run-up, but when he was seventh in the first run, he was hoping for significantly more. Julian Rauchfuss (Burig Mindelheim) retired in the first run. The day before, the DSV women did not know how to convince. The podium in a very exciting men’s race was completed by the Austrian Roland Leitinger (0.07 seconds back) and Zan Kranjec from Slovenia (+0.10).