Henrik Kristoffersen wins also the second Giant Slalom in Kranjska Gora. He laid down an exceptional second run, setting the best time, to claim victory with a combined time of 2:18.13, finishing 0.23 seconds ahead of Austrian Stefan Brennsteiner. The dominator of the season Marco Odermatt finished in third place +0.27 seconds behind Kristoffersen.
Kristoffersen’s double came just two weeks after he also won two slaloms in two days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Kristoffersen remains the favorite to win the Slalom Crystal Globe despite a poor showing in Flachau night slalom where he finished in 16th place. Despite that, he still holds a 48-point lead over compatriot Lucas Braathen with just one race left at the 2021-2022 Finals in Courchevel.
“A very good weekend, for sure. We’re skiing really well. It doesn’t matter if it’s straight, turny, or whatever it is, it’s a pretty good day”, said Kristoffersen.
It was Kristoffersen's 7th World Cup victory in Giant slalom and his 28th overall. He celebrated his 3rd victory in the 4th race after Beijing Winter Games.
He is the only man besides Marco Odermatt to win a Giant Slalom event this World Cup season. Kristoffersen achieved eleven World Cup podiums in Kranjska Gora, including a Slalom win on 15 March 2015 and a Giant Slalom win on 9 March 2019. Only Marcel Hirscher (15) claimed more top-three finishes in Kranjska Gora in the men's World Cup.
After finishing in fifth position yesterday, Stefan Brennsteiner claims today his first World Cup podium of the season and his best Giant Slalom World Cup result. Exactly one year ago, the Austrian had finished 3rd in the Giant Slalom race in Kranjska, which was his second World Cup podium.
7th World Cup Giant Slalom of the season, and 7th podium for Marco Odermatt. He won four of the seven Giant Slalom events in this season's World Cup, with two second-place finishes and a third-place today.
With today's third-place Marco Odermatt also extended his lead over Aleksander Kilde to 329 points in the Overall World Cup and secured the Overall Crystal Globe. Kilde, who did not compete in Kranjska Gora and opted to prepare for Wednesday’s Downhill race in Courchevel, where he can win the discipline title, does not compete in slalom and only can score a maximum of 300 points next week in the Finals.
"The result bothers me a bit. I wanted to give everything, give it my all, it would actually be a course for me, but a few mistakes crept in. Physically, I'm really, really good. I have no discomfort or pain. It’s not surprising that your head gets tired after a season like this, but I actually wanted to win today”, said Odermatt.
The 24-year-old also ended a long dry spell for the Helvetic. Switzerland had been waiting for a win in the Men's Overall World Cup since 2010 when Carlo Janka won. Overall, Odermatt is the fifth Swiss to win the Big Crystal Globe.
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