As many as seven Norwegians were part of the final round during the giant slalom race in Sölden. But despite a day with several good Norwegian performances, no one was going to go all the way to the top. Marco Odermatt won the World Cup opener, 76 hundredths ahead of Zan Kranjec from Slovenia. Henrik Kristoffersen became Norway’s best man in third place. The 28-year-old was delighted after the podium. He has historically struggled in Sölden. – Big day. It was especially the last 48 hours with everything that has happened, says Kristoffersen to news. Kristoffersen is clearly affected and uses the opportunity to pay tribute to the late Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz – who passed away on Saturday aged 78. The Norwegian has had Red Bull as a sponsor for a number of years. – I am one hundred percent sure both from Marco (Odermatt) and for my part that …, says Kristoffersen, who is unable to continue. IN ACTION: Henrik Kristoffersen. Photo: JOE KLAMAR / AFP – Did it affect you today? – When you race, you have to focus on what you have to do anyway. It is very special as he has done so much for the sport and athletes. It is an incredible person who has passed away, he replies. Sunday’s winner and Red Bull-sponsored Odermatt also chooses to find words of praise for Mateschitz. He heard about the news this morning. – I didn’t know him very well, but he was a great person for skiing and the whole sporting world. It is very sad that he has passed away. I think the whole Red Bull family would show good skiing today for him. I am happy to share this victory with him, he says. Kudos to the team effort Kristoffersen was in the lead for a period after finishing sixth in the final round, but fell two places. Lucas Braathen finished fourth after being second best before the final. Lucas Braathen Photo: LEONHARD FOEGER / Reuters – It’s no fun coming fourth, but ultimately I’m proud of the work I did today, Braathen told news. Rasmus Windingstad also impressed in the final round. Bæringen was in 12th place after the first round, but moved up to fifth place. – It was incredibly nice for them to get off to such a good start. Sölden is becoming a favourite, that is. It was a bit of a mess in the middle with the starting number today, so I am very pleased that I was able to pull off such a good result, Windingstad told news. As a result, a total of three Norwegians ended up in the top five during the World Cup opening. – It’s absolutely insane. We’re a bit of a team, it’s fun to be part of it. It will almost be my afterthought that I was part of the best alpine team Norway has had, said Windingstad about the team’s performance. IMPRESSED: Rasmus Windingstad Photo: LISA LEUTNER / Reuters Satisfied with the conditions Atle Lie McGrath was well satisfied with the first round in Sölden, but was unable to fight for any top positions. He took 18th place. McGrath also chooses to pay tribute to the team performance. – Completely wild. The fact that there are seven Norwegians in the final is pretty cool. It’s a pretty raw effort from the gang today. Really fun to be a part of, he told news. Kristoffersen was 95 hundredths behind Odermatt before the final, and was never able to catch up with the Swiss – who was very pleased after the victory in Sölden. – It is fantastic and a perfect start to the season. It was a challenging race with the snow in the second half. But yes, a perfect start, says Odermatt to news. Odermatt won the World Cup overall last season, and plans to repeat the feat this year as well. He believes it was important to get off to a good start. – It is very important. It shows that you are on the right path. That the summer was good and that no other nation has figured out how to drive two or three seconds faster. I think the Norwegian team looks strong this winter. They “pushed” on again, also with the young people. it’s going to be a good winter, he says. WON: Odermatt led after the first round in giant slalom, and eventually won comfortably in Sölden. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB After several days of bad weather, Kristoffersen pointed out that the conditions in Sölden were very good. – The second half is going to be rougher, so then it is possible to take more time. It’s the easiest Sölden I’ve ever driven. I think everyone says that, he said between innings and was supported by McGrath. – I would say that it is the easiest lap I have driven in Sölden so far. It was a very nice relationship. “I drove tactically just like I wanted to, considering I’ve never made it to the second half here,” he said. Had it tough Aamodt Kilde had it a little tougher in Sölden. He was some way behind after the first lap, and drove out when he had trouble in the hang in the final. – It’s a bit typical when you’ve done a little hanging skiing in slalom, it’s a bit easy to get excited and lose your head. It’s really sad, said the Alpine set to news. He thus got off to a difficult start in the hunt for the overall ball. Alexander Steen Olsen impressed in his first senior race in Sölden. The 21-year-old drove a good first round, but couldn’t quite get things going during the final. Steen Olsen finished in 19th place. – It was fun. Get a nice surprise to enter the hangar and feel that there were good conditions. Then it was just a matter of feeding on, said the youngster to news before the start of the final. Leif Kristian Nestvold-Haugen was number 14. Fabian Wilkens Solheim failed to qualify for the final round.
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Henrik Kristoffersen clearly marked by a podium place – tribute to the late boss – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
