The start of the last downhill run of the World Cup winter in Saalbach/Hinterglemm has been postponed several times. In the end, the men’s race had to be canceled. After the overall World Cup and the ball in the giant slalom, Marco Odermatt also won the downhill ski racer ranking.
The weather simply didn’t cooperate at the last alpine ski race of the season. It had snowed heavily overnight and in the morning in the Austrian Alps in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. This caused lasting damage to the slope. Those responsible literally flooded the slopes and tried desperately to fix the slope with salt. But all in vain.
In the end, the organizers had to admit defeat to the weather conditions. After almost two hours of futile efforts, the race was canceled. Also because the forecasts were not very promising. Another snow front was announced in Saalbach.
Overall World Cup Men Arrow right
Odermatt also wins the small crystal ball without a fight
This meant that nothing changed in the downhill rankings. The Swiss Marco Odermatt retained his top position and secured the small crystal ball without a fight ahead of the Frenchman Cyprien Zarrazin and Dominik Paris from Italy. It is the third ball for Odermatt this winter. The 26-year-old high flyer of the winter had already secured the overall World Cup and the small crystal ball for the best giant slalom athlete.
The Austrian Hermann Maier last achieved this feat in the alpine men’s category in 2000 and 2001. Odermatt achieved 13 World Cup victories and a total of 20 podium places this winter. German athletes did not qualify for the season finale in Saalbach-Hinterglemm in the fast disciplines.