CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Swiss skier Marco Odermatt overcame a tricky course setting to win a men’s World Cup super-G Sunday 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.
Brodie Seger of North Vancouver, B.C., was the top ϳԹ in 16th place.
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.
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 favorite 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 Méribel.
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