What can frighten Marco Odermatt?
On Tuesday again, on the eve of his five-day duel against Alexis Pinturault in Lenzerheide (Switzerland), the whole circuit was tormented by snow and wind that could compromise the performance of the descent.
An exercise in which the 23-year-old Swiss gifted is logically superior to the French, and which was finally canceled this Wednesday morning.
But he, anything but anxious, preferred to laugh at the weather on Instagram.
And went to film the sign of a bar in the station: “Don't worry, beer happy”, could we read on the slate.
This relaxation risks disarming more than one during these suspenseful finals of the Alpine Skiing World Cup and which continue this Thursday with the Super-G (11 hours).
“Athletes in their bubble, we know a lot.
Well, Marco, it's just the opposite, ”describes John Nicolet, commentator for Swiss public television (RTS).
“He's super nice, always says hello.
He even learned French very quickly.
And from a Swiss-German, I can tell you that it is very rare, ”he adds.
In insane form since the Worlds in Cortina (Italy) last month, he is now behind the Frenchman in search of this title by 31 points for a couple of years.
Its mission promises to be cotton without the downhill test but are we really close to a sensation?
"The two most beautiful technicians on the planet"
Marco Odermatt grew up in the meadows of Nidwalden, central Switzerland.
Bottle-fed in powder, just like his sister who also became a high-level skier, he gleaned his first national trophy at the age of 9.
We are then in 2006. Twelve years later, here he is five times gold medal at the Junior Worlds.
An unprecedented performance.
Since then, observers have been waiting for him without surprise on the senior podiums, especially in the giant slalom.
However, they did not establish any ambition for the general classification in the short term.
He either, to tell the truth.
But then, his progress in the speed disciplines turned out to be dazzling.
He has nine podiums this season, three wins including one in Super-G on March 7.
“They have two profiles and two very similar trajectories with Pinturault, who also broke young.
They are the two most beautiful technicians on the planet, with a speed prism for the Swiss, a technical prism for the French, ”analyzes Patrice Morisod, former coach of the two selections and today a TV consultant.
Odermatt often praises the talents of his elder brother in maintenance.
But he is not left out in terms of tribute.
"He can be a World Cup winner, Olympic champion, whatever he wants," said Austrian Marcel Hirscher, the greatest skier of the 21st century, holder of eight consecutive big globes.
Carefree and very high ambitions
David Chastan, director of the men's French teams, compares him to the Norwegian Aksel Lund Svindal, a model of versatility until his retirement in 2019. “An athletic profile, a great technique, a lot of character… He is programmed for win overall.
It remains to be seen when.
“He's going to mature.
He is a bit on the edge sometimes.
It's normal when you take risks that there is a little waste.
Carelessness is a term that often comes up with him.
But, be careful, no mistake.
“I saw him after he left the Worlds, I was right next to him.
There, we discover his personality.
He knows where he wants to go, and has a lot of ambition, ”continues Chastan.
“One of my strengths is that I'm ready when it counts.
I might be an easy going guy, but I know exactly when to pull myself together and push the envelope, ”he told his sponsor Redbull in 2019.
Swiss commentator John Nicolet confirms.
“His coaches tell us that.
He has this gift for compartmentalizing things and clearing sports when necessary.
Pinturault is warned, the competition in the coming years too.