Premiere day for Matthieu Bailet!
At 24, the Frenchman won the first podium of his career in the World Cup, taking 2nd place in the super-G in Saalbach (Austria), this Sunday.
The Niçois, who had never done better than 8th in the discipline, fails 62 hundredths from an untouchable Marco Odermatt.
Austrian Vincent Kriechmayr completes the podium.
“It's the best feeling I have felt in my career with my medal at the World Junior Championships
(Editor's note: winner in 2016)
, rejoiced the French, present on the circuit for five seasons.
It is the most beautiful surprise that I have had, a surprise that I prepared, worked on.
It's madness, euphoria and joy today.
"
"Make way for youth!"
First World Cup podium for Matthieu Bailet @bailet_matthieu!
2nd place behind Marco Odermatt on the super-G of #Saalbach @FX_Rallet @FedFranceSki @VilledeNice pic.twitter.com/ZpyDtcIsZJ
- Chalet ❄️ Club (@ ChaletClub2021) March 7, 2021
Pinturault, the wrong operation
Bib 1, Alexis Pinturault could not do better than a disappointing 15th place, more than two seconds behind the winner.
On a technical and very tricky track (9 drops out of the first 30 bibs), the Courchevel skier made more mistakes and paid dearly at the finish, seeing Odermatt getting dangerously close to the general classification of the World Cup.
After this super-G, “Pintu” lost 85 points on Odermatt.
He is only 81 ahead of the Swiss at the top of the overall World Cup standings, six races to go to the end of the season (one downhill, one super-G, two giants, two slaloms).
"Marco Odermatt is really in good shape, things are tightening up but that's normal," said the Frenchman.
We're coming out of a speed weekend and I'm not worried.
I did only one super-G session lately, I am focusing more on technique.
I'm still ahead in the standings but Marco Odermatt remains a big customer, that's for sure.
"
