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Swiss Gino Caviezel led the giant slalom at Austrian Sölden after the first half, ten hundredths ahead of Henrik Kristoffersen (26).
Kristoffersen has been Norway’s best card for several years in both slalom and giant slalom, but had to be overthrown from the throne by young Lucas Braathen (20).
– A victory was asking for a lot, but I knew I was capable of finishing on the podium. I have improved technically and I am stronger than before, says Braathen in the interview with the International Ski Federation (FIS) after the race.
Braathen ran a strong race after fifth in the first round. With that, the last minutes turned into a thriller.
But neither Kristoffersen nor the Swiss Gino Caveziel managed to discipline the young Norwegian, who took his first World Cup victory, 0.05 seconds behind Marco Odermatt and 0.46 behind the aforementioned Caviezel.
CV
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen
Age: 20 years old (born April 19, 2000)
Club: Bærum Ski Club
World Cup debut: December 8, 2018 in giant slalom in Val d’Isère.
World Cup: 1 win (giant slalom)
She earned her first World Cup victory on Sunday during the giant slalom season opener in Sölden. (NTB)
– Raw performance
– It’s an incredibly crude achievement. He delivers, he’s taken another step from the breakthrough season, he’s incredibly strong, Tom Stiansen tells Dagbladet.
The former high-level mountaineer and presenter from 71 degrees north doesn’t know Braathen personally, but he has heard a lot about the young man:
– He is very brave and has a lot of threat to himself. You go a long way with that. When you are also as good as him at skiing … he makes a big mistake before the floor, which probably loses a second and recovers. It’s raw, says Stiansen.
Leif Kristian Nestvold-Haugen had a very strong second lap. He started eighth last and was 17 hundredths ahead of Thibaut Favrot, who at that time was leading.
Expelled
However, after him came the Swiss Marco Odermatt, who took first place with a full second over Haugen. The Norwegian veteran finished in eighth place.
Last year’s World Cup winner Aleksander Aamodt Kilde left in the first round. Fabian Solheim did the same in others.
Braathen’s victory was Norway’s first at Sölden since Aksel Lund Svindal won there in 2007.
– I pressured myself. The media and the audience have lower expectations than mine. But I thrive on the pressure, Braathen told Dagbladet earlier this week.
– I don’t take races with such solemnity. I see it as another round of training. If I go out, it’s not the end of the world. The objective of this year will be to establish itself in these top positions. He should be on the podium several times last year. This year is the time, says Braathen.
Like I said, that’s right.
