ALTA BADIA, Italy (AP) — Marco Schwarz took a big lead in the first run of a World Cup giant slalom Sunday with Marco Odermatt far from contention after a tough three-day program of speed races.
Maybe only fatigue can stop Swiss star Odermatt at Alta Badia where he won five of the past six giant slaloms on the classic Gran Risa course.
Odermatt was 1.51 seconds behind Schwarz's leading time having come from nearby Val Gardena where since Thursday hewon a downhilland was runner-up in a downhill and a super-G.
The other giant slalom contenders do not race downhill though Schwarz did compete Friday in the super-G at Val Gardena. Wearing the No. 1 bib Sunday, Schwarz found a fast and direct line to be 0.64 faster than River Radamus of the United States.
Stefan Brennsteiner was third with 0.67 to make up on his Austria teammate Schwarz in the afternoon run.
A course set by a U.S. team coach seemed to mystify the usual favorites in giant slalom.
Olympic champion Odermattand former world champion Henrik Kristoffersen, who trailed by 1.52, looked bemused in the finish area seeing how much slower they were than Schwarz. Both placed outside the top-10 times.
Missing from the lineup was Alexander Steen Olsen who opted this week for season-ending knee surgery because of a persistent injury.
Steen Olsen was a two-time winner in giant slalom on the World Cup circuit last season and shaped as a medal contender at the Milan Cortina Olympics in February.
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