World Cup in Kitzbühel: Odermatt beat: Canadian ski coup on the streak

James Crawford celebrated his surprise victory with spread arms and skis in his hands. The Canadian duped the competition for TopfAvorit Marco Odermatt on the strip at the spectacle and celebrated the first World Cup success in the most prestigious race. The Swiss Odermatt had to be satisfied with sixth place after its victory in the Super-G and continues to wait for the first triumph in Kitzbühel. Heavy falls failed to materialize this time.

Schwarzenegger and Ibrahmovic in the stands

“A milestone” is this victory for him, said Crawford. The idea of ​​the outsider was “sensational”, said Romed Baumann. The 39-year-old took 18th place, his team-mate Luis Vogt rank 45. It was no surprise that the German duo had not much to do with the top ratings.

Odermatt, however, was one of the big beats. A departure victory on the most famous route in the world is still missing from the Olympic champion, two-time world champions and three overall World Cup winners.

“I didn’t hit all key points perfectly. In such a tight race, you are missing the decisive km/h,” said Odermatt. Last winter, however, he annoyed more, said the 27-year-old.

At that time, the currently seriously injured Frenchman Cyprien Sarrazin stole the show. This time the Canadian Crawford left the more than 40,000 spectators – including numerous celebrities such as Hollywood legend Arnold Schwarzenegger or ex -soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

“A man for the big races”

Whether Odermatt or his recently emerging teammate Franjo von Allmen – one top drivers after the other bit at the best time of Alexis Monney. Then the Swiss still had to vacate the leading chair of the leader in the finish area.

Crawford sat with start number 20 just eight hundredths of a second in front of Monney, and his compatriot Cameron Alexander finished third. Not Switzerland, but Canada celebrates the big party.

Crawford had not won a World Cup race in his career before, but surprisingly won World Cup gold in the Super-G two years ago. At the Olympic Games in Beijing, he won bronze in the combination in 2022. “He is apparently a man for the big races,” said routinner Baumann. He assumes that the Canadians will “tear down Kitzbühel,” he joked.

Feared falls stay out

Five of the 55 starters did not finish on the dreaded streak, unlike in the Super-G on Friday and in many races of the past few years, there were no falling over. The Swiss of Allmen briefly lost the balance at the finish jump, but started spectacularly. Like his compatriot Bode Miller in Kitzbühel, the American Sam Morse once drove across the gang on the edge of the route.

In the Super -G day before, there had been violent accidents, also due to the unfortunate course of the course and an extremely restless key point – as is so often the case this season. The discussions about security in the Alpine Ski World Cup were further fueled. This time the sporting achievements were once again in the foreground. And above all the Canadian Crawford.