Switzerland's Marco Odermatt laid down a dominant marker for the new alpine skiing season, clinching victory in the men's World Cup downhill opener at Beaver Creek, Colorado. The reigning overall champion edged out American hope Ryan Cochran-Siegle by a slender margin, with Norway's Adrian Smiseth Sejersted completing the podium.
Odermatt's Perfect Start on Shortened Course
The race on the iconic Birds of Prey course was run on a shorter layout due to insufficient snow for safety netting, moving the finish line uphill. Odermatt mastered the conditions, posting a winning time of 1 minute 29.84 seconds. This was a mere 0.30 seconds faster than Cochran-Siegle, showcasing the fine margins at the sport's pinnacle.
"For me, a perfect race," declared Odermatt after his run. His consistency in downhill is formidable; he hasn't finished outside the top seven in a World Cup downhill since 2023. This victory marks his fifth World Cup downhill win and follows a super-G triumph at Copper Mountain over Thanksgiving, signalling his intent to defend his overall crown.
Cochran-Siegle's Podium Signals American Resurgence
For Ryan Cochran-Siegle, second place represents a significant milestone. The 32-year-old American, a super-G silver medallist from the 2022 Beijing Olympics, became the first US skier to stand on a World Cup downhill podium at Beaver Creek since Steven Nyman in 2014.
"It's cool to stand among those legends," said Cochran-Siegle, referencing skiers like Bode Miller, the last American to win a downhill at the venue back in 2011. A member of America's famed Cochran skiing dynasty, his performance is a timely boost as he builds towards the next Olympic cycle. His path has been one of remarkable resilience, overcoming a broken neck and major knee surgery to return to the top of the sport.
When asked about catching the dominant Odermatt, Cochran-Siegle was frank: "How do you catch him? I don't know. I think the rest of the world's still trying to figure that out."
Notable Returns and Incidents on the Mountain
The race also marked a cautious but positive return for Norway's Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. The former overall champion, recovering from a horrific crash in January 2024 that required surgery on his calf and shoulder, finished a respectable 11th place. "I'm super happy with how I could control things today," a relieved Kilde stated.
Norway's Adrian Smiseth Sejersted celebrated his first World Cup downhill podium, adding to two previous top-three finishes in super-G.
The event was not without concern, as Slovenia's Rok Aznoh suffered a scary high-speed crash near the race's conclusion. He was transported to hospital for evaluation of suspected head and knee injuries.
With weather forecasts threatening Saturday's schedule, organisers moved the super-G race to Friday. A giant slalom event is slated for Sunday, completing the Beaver Creek stop of the World Cup tour.
