Odermatt Wins Beaver Creek Downhill Opener by 0.30 Seconds

Marco Odermatt of Switzerland captured the men's World Cup downhill season opener on Thursday in Beaver Creek, Colorado, edging out American Ryan Cochran-Siegle by 0.30 seconds on a shortened version of the challenging Birds of Prey course. Odermatt clocked a time of 1 minute, 29.84 seconds, with Norway's Adrian Smiseth Sejersted taking third place, 0.52 seconds behind the winner.

The race, the 11th World Cup downhill held on the iconic course, faced adjustments due to insufficient snow lower down the hill. Organizers moved the finish line higher up the mountain, making it barely visible from the stands, to allow for proper placement of safety netting. Despite the modifications, the track remained demanding, featuring steep pitches and flatter sections that tested racers' speed management. Odermatt excelled by attacking the steeper parts aggressively while maintaining momentum through the less favorable terrain. "For me, a perfect race," Odermatt said afterward.

The 28-year-old Swiss skier has dominated the discipline, securing the last two overall World Cup downhill titles and not finishing outside the top seven in any downhill event since 2023. Thursday's victory marked his...