Swiss skier Odermatt takes men's super-G in Italy for 2nd straight day
Brodie Seger top Canadian in 16th while 4 others place inside top 30
Swiss skier Marco Odermatt overcame a tricky course setting to win a men's World Cup super-G Sunday in sun-splashed Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy for his second victory in two days, just over a week before the start of the world championships.
Odermatt extended his lead in both the overall and super-G standings, as his closest challenger, Norway's Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, was among the 10 racers in the top 30 who failed to finish.
"It was a difficult super-G, I also had my troubles. I got very tight in one, two gates as well," Odermatt said.
His win came a day after he made a triumphant return from his injury layoff, having skipped two races last week to rest a sore left knee.
"Two very important races for me, and as well for that mini comeback, to do this before the world champs, so now I definitely know everything fits," the defending overall champion said.
Brodie Seger finished 16th as the best-ranked Canadian in 1:27.25. Four others from Canada placed among the top 30, including Cameron Alexander of North Vancouver, B.C., in 20th (1:27.32).
Jeff Read of Canmore, Alta. (23rd, 1:27.49)), Vancouver's Riley Seger (25th, 1:27.62) and Broderick Thompson of Whistler, B.C. (27th, 1:27.66) followed while Toronto's Jack Crawford did not finish along with Calgary's Trevor Philp and Kyle Alexander of North Vancouver.
The perfect run from Marco for a double victory in <a href="https://twitter.com/cortinaSkiWcup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cortinaSkiWcup</a> this weekend 😎<br><br>Amazing, well done! 👏🏻<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fisalpine?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fisalpine</a> <a href="https://t.co/7GhPHHiM7m">pic.twitter.com/7GhPHHiM7m</a>
—@fisalpineMeanwhile, Odermatt was far from clean on the challenging Olympia delle Tofane course but just made it through a tough section about 30 seconds into the run. Skiers were coming over a roll and approached a double left turn, where many were going too fast to make the next gate.
"It was on the limit. It was a very difficult turn to get the timing right. At course inspection everyone saw it a bit differently," Odermatt said.
Home favourite Dominik Paris was 0.76 seconds behind in second for his first podium of the season. Austrian skier Daniel Hemetsberger trailed by 1.03 in third.
The course in the Italian Dolomites with its marquee Tofane Schuss is a usual stop on the women's circuit but was hosting men's World Cup races this weekend for the first time in more than three decades.
A slalom in Chamonix, France, next Saturday is the last men's World Cup race before the Feb. 6-19 world championships in Courchevel and Meribel.
With files from CBC Sports
