Still missing an important win – Odermatt is ready for the new season

Marco Odermatt is aiming for a fourth consecutive championship in the World Cup season that starts on Sunday. But the Niederwalden native was more focused on the downhill victory in Kitzbühel than the crystal ball and World Cup medals.

He is a three-time World Cup champion, a two-time world champion and an Olympic champion. He won 37 World Cup games. No other driver in the World Cup handles adverse conditions and pressure as well as he does.

Marco Odermatt, who turned 27 earlier this month, took it all in stride. Almost nothing. “When I did my first commercial with Roger Federer, I was nervous,” he said. He was a little shy at first. But now that too has subsided and Federer has become a friend.

Sports success, down to earth, marketable. There are many similarities between tennis player Federer and skier Odermatt. The comparison is logical. Odermatt admits they will respect him. Put things into perspective with this next sentence: “He's the greatest. I'm not at his level yet.”

Federer has a larger following around the world, mainly because tennis is a global sport. In Switzerland, however, Odermatt is as sympathetic as the “Maestro” for his approachable personality and popularity of skiing.

While Federer feels at home around the world, Odermatt feels most at home in his home country. He can take a break at Lake Lucerne to recharge his batteries for the tough World Cup winter with friends and family.

Achieve new successes with Hervas

Odermatt hopes to write the first page of a new chapter in his success story next Sunday. On the Rettenbach glacier above Sölden, the Buochser glacier is the most popular glacier. Considering how dominant he was in giant slalom last season, any other win than a third win in the season opener at Ötztal would be surprising. He won nine of ten races, only to retire in the final race of the season – while leading – and therefore miss out on a perfect season in fundamental disciplines. “Of course, it pissed me off and I was disappointed at first. But I checked it off after a few days.”

Odermatt won a total of four crystal balls last season.Image: trapezoid

Success is fleeting. Odermatt has not looked back, instead focusing on the upcoming World Cup winter. Physical condition looks good, with his upper body looking wider and more muscular than before last season. “I probably have an extra kilo or two,” Odermatt said with a smile.

Alejo Hervas is responsible for the physical condition of model athletes. The long-time fitness coach and confidant of Lara Gut-Behrami moved to Odermatt's training camp this spring and replaced Kurt Kurtbauer ( Kurt Kothbauer). «In my opinion, I got the most from Marco. “I don't know how to make it better,” the Austrian said when explaining the move. In fact, Spaniard Hervas seems to have found a method that works. In pre-season strength and endurance testing, Odermatt's times improved by about three percent from the previous year.

The Gap of Palmares

Squeeze the lemon until it looks squeezed. Standing still means going backwards – although that doesn’t apply to Odermatt’s case. “If I can get close to where I was last season, I'll sign,” he said, immediately adding that he can still improve in every aspect. Odermatt sees potential primarily at the beginning of the curve. “It's still better, more refined, and the braking effect is less.” Statements like this might come across as a slap in the face to rivals.

Who can stop Odermatt this year?Image: trapezoid

Odermatt has been too dominant over the past three seasons for anyone to seriously threaten him in the race for the big crystal ball. The biggest competitor still hasn't made a move. Norwegian Alexander Kilde is out for the entire season after suffering a shoulder infection following a fall in Wengen and undergoing surgery. Marco Schwartz, who started last season on equal footing with Odermatt, suffered another setback with a slipped disc while recovering from a torn ACL. It remains to be seen when and in what form the Austrian will return. It remains to be seen how Lucas Braathen performs after a year out and Marcel Hirscher performs after a five-year absence. Odermatt himself regards his teammate Luik Mellard as his biggest opponent for the ball.

Zalatzin defeated Odermatt twice in Kitzbühel.Image: trapezoid

The only player who managed to annoy Odermatt time and time again last season was Frenchman Cyprien Zarazin. In Bormio he snatched Odermatt's first World Cup downhill victory by nine hundredths. At Kitzbühel he defeated the Swiss twice and won both races. Odermatt was particularly annoyed by the latter. The 27-year-old has clearly set his big goals for next season. “I want to win the Kitzbühel downhill.” He has already finished on the podium in all the other classic races. What was missing was a perfect ride and victory on the legendary “Streif”. This would allow Marco Odermatt to complete Palmarès at a relatively young age. (Standard Data Authority)

Lara Gut-Behrami spoke of fears and doubts after Sölden missed the start. Your problem is serious. So difficult that you have to ask yourself the question: Is her career coming to an end?

Just drive – and everything will be fine. Lara Gut-Behrami imagined it this way: “I thought that starting in Sölden I would be able to forget everything that happened last month.” It didn't work. Early in the morning—shortly after driving in—she knew: This wasn't going to work. “I feel like today is not the day to compete.”