Marco Odermatt Dominates Downhill Opener, Ryan Cochran-Siegle Secures Historic 2nd Place in Beaver Creek
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Marco Odermatt has solidified his position as a downhill powerhouse, claiming the World Cup season-opening title in Beaver Creek, Colorado. The Swiss skier finished in a blistering 1 minute, 29.84 seconds, a mere 0.30 seconds ahead of American Ryan Cochran-Siegle. Norway's Adrian Smiseth Sejersted rounded out the podium in third place. The Birds of Prey course, shortened due to a lack of snow, proved to be a challenging but fair test of the athletes' skills. Odermatt's winning strategy involved attacking the steeper sections and maintaining speed through the flatter parts of the course. Cochran-Siegle's impressive performance marked a historic moment for American downhill racing, as he became the first American to secure a World Cup downhill podium in Beaver Creek since Steven Nyman in 2014. The 2022 silver medalist in super-G expressed his admiration for the legendary skiers he now stands alongside. Norway's Adrian Smiseth Sejersted notched his first World Cup podium in downhill, while his teammate Aleksander Aamodt Kilde made a strong return to competition after a serious crash in January 2024. Rok Aznoh of Slovenia suffered a frightening crash near the finish line, resulting in a hospital visit for evaluation of head and knee injuries. Organizers have rescheduled the super-G event to Friday, citing unfavorable weather forecasts for Saturday. The giant slalom competition remains scheduled for Sunday.
