ADELBODEN, Switzerland (AP) — In a shocking turn of events, a home team Swiss racer took the lead in the first run of a World Cup giant slalom on Sunday, though it wasn't the skier that everyone was expecting to dominate the competition.
Marco Odermatt, the Swiss star and one of the favorites to win the event, found himself in third place after the first run, with his teammate Loic Meillard taking the top spot on the leaderboard.
Meillard's impressive performance thrilled the crowd in Adelboden, Switzerland, as he navigated the challenging giant slalom course with precision and speed, setting a time that would be difficult for his competitors to beat.
Odermatt, on the other hand, seemed to struggle with the course, making a few critical errors that cost him valuable time and left him trailing behind Meillard and another competitor who took the second spot.
Despite the unexpected outcome of the first run, Odermatt remains a strong contender for the overall title, given his impressive record in the World Cup giant slalom events.
The outcome of the competition is still far from certain, with the second run still to come, and Odermatt will need to dig deep and ski flawlessly if he hopes to overtake Meillard and claim the top spot on the podium.
Meillard's lead has certainly added an exciting twist to the competition, and fans will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of the second run to see if he can hold on to his position and take the win, or if Odermatt will be able to stage a comeback and claim the title.