Alexander Steen Olsen celebrates: GEPA pictures
Second Run: Thrills Under the Lights as Schladming Crowns Its Champion
The second run of the Schladming Night Giant Slalom delivered all the drama and intensity the iconic Planai slope is known for. Heavy rain forced organizers to lower the start, creating an unusually short course where every turn mattered and the men’s GS became a true sprint, with runs clocking in just over 50 seconds. Only the fastest 30 athletes from the first run earned the chance to compete under the floodlights, starting in reverse order. With the slowest qualifier running first and the fastest skier last, the excitement built steadily as lead changes came fast and frequent, electrifying the massive crowd.
Alexander Steen Olsen Wins His Second GS of the Season Under the Schladming Lights
Final Five Set Up a Dramatic Finish
With five racers left, Marco Odermatt clung to a 0.12-second lead over Joan Verdu, while Thibaut Favrot sat third. The 40,000-strong Schladming crowd, energized by a night of thrilling racing, braced for the dramatic conclusion.
Austria’s Stefan Brennsteiner was the first to attack the leaderboard. Pushed on by the roaring home fans, he charged down the course but came up just 0.09 seconds short of Odermatt, unable to take the lead.
Slovenia’s Žan Kranjec followed. Despite an aggressive approach, he couldn’t find the necessary speed to overtake the leaders, falling behind Verdu. With only three racers left—Henrik Kristoffersen, Alexander Steen Olsen, and Loïc Meillard—the battle for victory intensified.
Henrik Kristoffersen Surges Into the Lead
Sitting third after the first run, Kristoffersen pushed the limits with calculated aggression. He charged through the turns, carrying speed through the critical middle section while staying just inside the line of possibility. His ability to find acceleration where others lost it put him into the lead as he crossed the finish, igniting a roar from the Schladming crowd.
With two racers remaining—Steen Olsen and Meillard—the race was far from decided.
Alexander Steen Olsen Takes Control
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The second-to-last racer, Steen Olsen, attacked with confidence. Letting the skis run and taking risks in key sections, he built speed where others had hesitated. By the final interval, he was ahead, and as he crossed the line, the clock confirmed it—Steen Olsen had taken the lead.
“After some tough races, to finally have a day like this—especially here in Schladming with this incredible atmosphere and the fans braving the rain—is just awesome,” Steen Olsen said. “Between the runs, I told myself to just give it my all, let go, and ski the way I know I can. To make it happen here, in front of such an amazing crowd, is incredible.”
But with Meillard still to race, the victory was not secure.
Loïc Meillard Falls Short, Norway Goes 1-2
Meillard, the first-run leader, had the final say. He pushed out of the start, knowing he had to fight for every hundredth. But he could not keep pace with Steen Olsen in the softened course. He battled to maintain speed but lost time in the lower section. When he crossed the line, his time placed him fourth overall, confirming Steen Olsen’s victory and securing a Norwegian 1-2 finish with Kristoffersen in second.
“First of all, congratulations to Alexander—what an amazing second run,” Henrik Kristoffersen said after finishing second. “I’ve known Alexander since he was a little boy, and it’s very cool to share the podium with him. Of course, I’d hope to win—that’s the goal for all of us—but if it’s not me, it’s very OK that it’s Alexander.”
Kristoffersen also acknowledged the tight battle for the podium. “I feel a little sorry for Loïc because he skied really well. It would have been cool to have all three of us on the podium, but congratulations to Marco, who had a really strong second run. When you’ve had as many wins as he has, it’s not luck,” he added.
Meanwhile, Odermatt’s incredible charge from 12th after the first run to third completed the podium, capping off an electrifying night of racing.
“It was such a tight race, unbelievably tight—I was probably the luckiest guy of the day,” Marco Odermatt said after charging from 12th to third under the challenging conditions. “We’re not used to skiing in the rain, and the slope was tough. You had to adapt your setup and your mindset to make it work. My first run wasn’t great, the second was better, but still not perfect. I’m happy to be back on the podium in Schladming.”
The Schladming Night Giant Slalom once again delivered a spectacle under the lights, proving why it remains one of the most thrilling races on the World Cup circuit.
Second Run: Schladming Roars as the Battle Unfolds
Early Racers Set the Bar
As the second run began, dense fog settled over the upper section of the course, making visibility a challenge. However, the athletes attacked the Planai slope with aggressive skiing, thrilling the 40,000-plus fans packed into Schladming’s electric finish stadium.
After the first ten racers had completed their second runs, Austria’s Marco Schwarz held the lead with a strong, clean performance, setting the time to beat. Belgium’s Sam Maes impressed with an aggressive charge and sat 0.51 seconds behind in second. Schwarz’s teammate, Lukas Feurstein, was close behind in third, trailing by just 0.61 seconds.
Verdu and Zubčić Take Over at the Halfway Mark
By the time 15 skiers had completed their second runs, Andorra’s Verdu surged into the lead with a bold and aggressive performance. Croatia’s Filip Zubčić followed closely, just 0.06 seconds behind, while Austria’s Schwarz climbed four spots to sit in third. Verdu’s remarkable effort ultimately saw him move up 13 positions to finish sixth, while Schwarz gained 10 places to finish 11th, showcasing the unpredictability and excitement of the second run.
Odermatt Grabs Control with 12 to Go
As the race neared its decisive moments, the leaderboard remained unchanged—until Odermatt took the course. The Swiss superstar, who had won the last three GS races this season, skied quickly to the edge of his ability, surpassing Verdu’s combined time by just 0.12 seconds. Odermatt was the first of twelve skiers to race who had finished within a second of the fastest first-run time, signaling that the battle for victory was far from over.
With the tension building and the top contenders yet to come, Odermatt held the lead over Verdu and France’s Thibaut Favrot as the final skiers prepared to take their runs.
Radamus Gains Momentum with Strong Second Run
Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s River Radamus gained five positions during the second run to finish 12th, just 0.96 seconds behind the winner.
“It was dumping rain during the warmup, some of the hardest conditions I’ve ever skied in, and we got the word it’d be a lowered start. I knew it was going to be a tight race with no time to settle in—you had to go all-out from the start,” Radamus said. “My first run was a little too safe, and it cost me, but the second run I went for broke and skied much better. It’s been a tough January for me, but this was a step in the right direction. With some time to prepare, I’m excited for World Champs and hopeful I’ll be peaking at just the right time to challenge for medals.”
The Schladming Night Giant Slalom proved once again why it is one of the marquee events on the Alpine World Cup calendar. Under the floodlights, Alexander Steen Olsen’s fearless skiing earned him a second giant slalom victory this season, leading a historic Norwegian 1-2 finish with Henrik Kristoffersen. Marco Odermatt’s remarkable comeback highlighted the unpredictability of this dramatic format, while the Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s River Radamus impressed with a strong second run to secure 12th. The energy of the Schladming crowd and the thrilling battles on the Planai slope made this a race to remember.
Results:
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Analysis of the Fastest Three and North American Qualifiers
