Ski World Cup in Saalbach-Hinterglemm: German shock moment at Odermatt’s World Cup show: “Brutal”

The outstanding world champion Marco Odermatt already gave the first gold interviews, when a German suddenly caused a moment of terror at the Ski World Cup. Luis Vogt fell to the target leap in the target leap, was thrown through the air several meters and crashed hard on the hard slopes. In the target stadium of Saalbach-Hinterglemm with 15,700 fans it became very quiet. It was only when the 22-year-old quickly got upset and waved that relieved cheers broke up.

Visibly fluffy and shaken, the German alpine boss Wolfgang Maier accompanied his youngster. Vogt was immediately brought into the team hotel for an examination. As the German Ski Association (DSV) later announced, the 22-year-old suffered bruises in the right hip area and a capsule strain in the left knee. It should be decided at short notice whether the Garmischer will start departure training this Saturday morning.

Loss of control of target jump

“It is bitter,” said Vogt’s teammate Romed Baumann, who was only 22 after a disappointing race with 2.67 seconds behind Odermatt. “We talked about it above: Full concentration over the target jump!” And yet Vogt caught it at the World Cup premiere. He just lost control and balance on the edge, only moments sailed through the air crossing. Without a ski, Vogt slipped to the finish line and also tore a small advertising tape there.

In the already decimated German Speed ​​team, Simon Jocher came 18th (+2.45) as the third starter. The Vogt club colleague is having a hard time, among other things because of a painful bruise and the consequences of a herniated disc from the summer of 2024.

“Today I actually felt quite good on my foot,” he said afterwards. “I have pain with every momentum, yes, but there were no such stinging. There are no excuses: if I am at the start, it counts, so I don’t want to whine.”

Swiss superstar drives like in its own league: “It was perfect”

There was absolutely nothing to whine for ski star Odermatt, who caught the competition in Austria right at the beginning of these title fights. After a famous drive down the Zwölferkogel, the Swiss won a second lead ahead of Raphael Haaser from Austria. The third -placed Norwegian Adrian Smiseth Sejersted was 1.15 seconds behind. What a demonstration of power by the best ski racer of the present!

“It was perfect,” said Odermatt in the ARD. “From the third goal I noticed that the ski does 100 percent what I want. Then everything just goes, you can go to the limit, risk and don’t feel at the limit. It worked perfectly today.”

Only once was the lead at a World Cup super-G: in 1991 Austria’s Stephan Eberharter was even one and a half seconds faster than the runner-up. The World Cup location at the time: Saalbach-Hinterglemm.

Odermatt now like Miller, Maier and Briggen

The 27-year-old Odermatt won his third world championship title two years ago after giant slalom and downhill gold. Three World Cup gold medals in these three core disciplines made only Bode Miller (USA), Hermann Maier (Austria) and his compatriot Pirmin Zurbriggen in front of Odermatt. In 2022 in Beijing, the Confederation had also become an Olympic champion. And he dominates anyway in the World Cup.

Some rivals had looked at the run of the alpine ace at the start on television. “There was a murmur,” said Baumann. “Everyone knew that they won’t be bending today. It was a brilliant journey and it is not for nothing a second ahead. And a second on a supposedly light slope … brutal!”

The departure of the women is on Saturday (11.30 a.m./ARD and Eurosport). After three impressive training trips and sixth in Super-G, DSV driver Emma Aicher is one of the secret favorites on a medal. The men’s descent is scheduled for Sunday (11.30 a.m.).