20-year-old Norewain sensation Lucas Braathen stole the show at today’s Audi FIS World Cup 2020-2021 opening race in Soelden as he edged Swiss Marco Odermatt (SUI) by 0.06 seconds to claim his first-ever World Cup win and podium. He is also the youngest winner in Sölden ever.
“Victory is too much to ask for,” said Braathen. “I know that my mental side is strong. I know that my technical skiing has improved a lot. I knew that I was capable of a podium”.
Fifth in the first run, Braathen attacked the Rettenbach slope for the second time in his career (he finished 6th with bib 40 last year) with his light-hearted and fearless attitude that enabled him to achieve his first World Cup victory after only 23 races from his debut.
"First victory, first race of the season is unbelievable", an elated Braathen said afterwards, "The second run I went for it, I'm not here for fifth place, I want first".
The second run was crucial also for another young talent, Marco Odermatt (SUI) who conquered his first World Cup victory in Super-G last season. Odermatt was the fastest skier in the second run and was able to climb back from seventh place.
Swiss team-mate Gino Caviezel (SUI), who was in the lead in the first run, completed the podium with a solid second run. It's also the first World Cup podium for Caviezel.
In the first run, the top seven positions were just three-tenths of a second apart, giving the leader, Gino Caviezel, only 0.15 seconds between him and Zan Kranjec, Henrik Kristoffersen and Alexis Pinturault behind him.
After the second run all three finished just off the podium: defending Sölden champion Alexis Pinturault (FRA) finished fourth, Giant Slalom globe winner Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) fifth and Zan Kranjec (SLO) seventh.
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