Marco Odermatt ends the ski season with 4 crystal balls. © APA/afp / JOE KLAMAR

No conclusion for the downhill riders – Odermatt gets crystal

The last race of the ski season fell victim to the weather, meaning the Swiss Marco Odermatt also won the downhill World Cup. Despite repeated postponements, no start was possible in Saalbach-Hinterglemm on Sunday.

March 24, 2024

From: cst/dpa

After the start had been postponed three times, the organizers and the FIS finally canceled the descent in Saalbach-Hinterglemm on Sunday. Due to snowfall and wind, the safety of the athletes could not have been guaranteed, it was said. Odermatt was 42 points ahead of Cyprien Sarrazin in the downhill rankings before the season finale. The Frenchman, who won the two races on the legendary Streif in Kitzbühel in January, was the only pursuer the 26-year-old still had to fear.

Having already won the overall World Cup as well as the discipline rankings in the giant slalom and super-G, Odermatt is now ending his outstanding season with four trophies. The Austrian Hermann Maier last achieved this feat in the alpine men's category in 2000 and 2001. Odermatt achieved 13 World Cup victories and a total of 20 podium places this winter.

Dominik Paris was – by far – the Azzurri’s best downhill skier in the past ski season. © ANSA / CHRISTIAN BRUNA

Dominik Paris ends the downhill season in third place overall. The Ultner collected 3 points, which is 342 fewer than Odermatt. Paris is 210th in the overall World Cup ranking. Second best Azzurro in the downhill ranking is Florian Schieder (8th/11) ahead of Mattia Casse (194th/12).