Lukas Feurstein raced sensationally onto the podium. © APA / GABRIELE FACCIOTTI/AGENCE ZOOM

A darned Super-G with all kinds of sensations

The first speed weekend of the new World Cup season is history – and it concluded with a spectacular Super-G.

07 December 2024

From: det

One thing is clear: There was no surprising winner on Saturday in Beaver Creek, and the name in second place was no surprise either. Marco Odermatt, the currently best skier in the world, triumphed in the first Super-G of the season ahead of Cyprien Sarrazin, one of the best downhill skiers of the past winter. The man in third place was a big surprise. With Lukas Feurstein, a 23-year-old Austrian, nobody would have expected before the race.

Feurstein has only competed in 23 World Cup races in his career - partly because he was often plagued by injuries. He has never managed a podium finish. In January 2023, almost two years ago, the Vorarlberg native finished 6th in the Super-G in Cortina, which was his best result to date. Now his knot has burst. "That's great," enthuses Feurstein. "This year I was pain-free during preparation for the first time in years. That's why I trained well. It feels really good."

Lukas Feurstein looks around in disbelief. © APA / GABRIELE FACCIOTTI/AGENCE ZOOM

Feurstein seized the opportunity on Saturday. The Super-G in Beaver Creek was tricky for a long time. Of the first seven runners, only two made it to the finish. The aggressive snow and the treacherous course meant that numerous top athletes stumbled and more than two dozen were eliminated. Feurstein, whose other mainstay is the giant slalom, felt right at home on this technical course from the start - just like winner Odermatt and runner-up Sarrazin.

Italy's super talent narrowly misses the podium

Also causing a sensation was Giovanni Franzoni. The three-time junior world champion, who has never finished better than 22nd in the World Cup, is considered a huge talent in Italy's ski team - and narrowly missed the podium on Saturday, finishing fourth. Franzoni, with starting number 39, put in a fabulous run and ultimately missed the podium by just 13 hundredths of a second. The Azzurro shares fourth place with Fredrik Møller. The Norwegian also achieved a sensation, as he had never been better than 21st before.

Giovanni Franzoni had a great race. © APA / CHRISTIAN PETERSEN

For dominik paris The Super-G was a mixed bag. Although the Ultner was not completely dissatisfied at the finish, he was pushed back to 15th place by the end. Immediately behind him was Mattia Casse . Christoph Innerhofer Meanwhile, he missed the points, Florian Schieder was eliminated.

The Beaver Creek weekend will be rounded off with a giant slalom on Sunday. The first run will start at 18 p.m., with the final race starting at 21 p.m.