Marco Odermatt is aiming for another victory. © ANSA / GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO

Odermatt wants another crystal globe – Vinatzer is out for revenge

Five and a half weeks after the Schladming night race double-header, the technical skiers in the men's Alpine Ski World Cup are back in action this weekend. Among them are Marco Odermatt, who is on the verge of winning the small crystal globe in the giant slalom, and Alex Vinatzer, who is looking to make amends after his disappointing Olympic Games.

March 06, 2026

From: leo/apa

After the women kicked off the calendar year in Kranjska Gora in early January with giant slalom and slalom races, the penultimate men's races of the season in these disciplines are now on the program in the Slovenian ski resort. Therefore, the decision regarding the overall World Cup title could already be made.

Before Saturday's giant slalom, Marco Odermatt has a 103-point lead over his closest rival, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, meaning he could clinch the first of four possible crystal globes. The Brazilian Olympic champion needs to make up at least four points on the Swiss skier in Podkoren to have any chance of winning the discipline title at the season finale in Hafjell, Norway. Also still in contention, albeit with significantly less time, are Switzerland's Loic Meillard and Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen.

Vinatzer wants to surprise

Alex Vinatzer is currently in a respectable eighth place. Qualifying for the World Cup Finals is long since over, and for the 26-year-old, the focus in Slovenia is primarily on one thing: redemption after a difficult Winter Games. He was eliminated in both the slalom and giant slalom, and in the team combined, he missed out on a medal while leading. On the podium, he'll be battling a losing streak, having never qualified for the second run in three appearances.

Alex Vinatzer is Italy's spearhead. © Pentaphoto

In addition to Wolkensteiner, two other South Tyroleans, Tobias Kastlunger and Matteo Canins, were nominated for the weekend. Simon Talacci, Filippo Della Vite, Giovanni Borsotti, Luca De Aliprandini, Tommaso Sala, Stefano Pizzato, Edoardo Saracco, Tommaso Saccardi, and Corrado Barbera complete the Azzurri squad.

Close race in the Slalom World Cup

The battle for the top spot as the winter's best slalom skier has recently intensified. Atle Lie McGrath is one point ahead of Braathen. For the Norwegian, winning the crystal globe would likely be some consolation for his Olympic disappointment, when he opted for a career in the woods after his DNF. The French Beijing Olympic champion, Clement Noel, 17 points behind, and the Norwegians Timon Haugan and Kristoffersen, 53 and 79 points back respectively, still have a chance.

Atle Lie McGrath was the tragic hero of the Olympic Games. © APA/afp / DIMITAR DILKOFF

Last year, Kristoffersen won both the giant slalom and the slalom. The Austrian resident and Schladming winner has already racked up six victories in Kranjska Gora. Odermatt, who only competes in the giant slalom, has three wins, including a double victory in 2023. This season, Odermatt has secured three giant slalom wins, while Olympic slalom champion Meillard has two. In the slalom, McGrath and Frenchman Paco Rassat have each won twice.