SÖLDEN, Austria – Lucas Pinheiro Braathen proved once again that he is the undisputed king of giant slalom, securing a commanding victory at the World Cup season-opener on the Rettenbach glacier on Sunday. With the win, the Brazilian star extended his winning streak in the discipline to four races, a dominant run that began with his historic gold medal performance at last season’s Milan Cortina Games.
The Norwegian-born skier, who switched his allegiance to his mother’s home country two years ago, solidified his position at the top of the sport by successfully defending his first-run lead. Despite facing a challenging course shortened by fierce winds on the upper glacier and navigating difficult, flat light, Pinheiro Braathen put down a masterclass performance to finish nearly half a second ahead of his closest challengers.
“I didn’t want to hesitate,” Pinheiro Braathen said after the race, his voice echoing with relief. “I knew what I had in me, and I’m so, so proud to put it out there. There was a lot of pressure on my shoulders today, but pressure is privilege, and I was able to capitalize on that. What a relief to be able to open the show in this way.”
The podium was completed by a pair of formidable Swiss skiers. Olympic slalom champion Loic Meillard claimed second place, finishing 0.48 seconds behind the leader, while five-time defending overall champion Marco Odermatt took third, just 0.01 seconds further back. American racer River Radamus put on an impressive display of recovery, surging from 15th place after the first run to finish a respectable fourth.
As he crossed the finish line to secure his ninth career World Cup victory, Pinheiro Braathen roared toward the stands, where a small but passionate contingent of fans waved Brazilian flags. Also celebrating in the finish area was the skier’s girlfriend, Brazilian actress Isadora Cruz.
Pinheiro Braathen’s current run of form is historic for South American skiing. Since his breakthrough at the Milan Cortina Games, he has remained unbeaten in the giant slalom, having also swept the final two races of last season to clinch the discipline title. This victory marks his fourth win since transitioning to represent Brazil, a country that saw its first-ever World Cup Alpine skiing win courtesy of Pinheiro Braathen in Finland nearly a year ago.
The race was not without its casualties; Atle Lie McGrath, who sat in fifth after the initial run, lost control early in his second attempt, while Marco Schwarz’s day ended prematurely after he missed a gate in the opening run.
With this latest triumph, Pinheiro Braathen has firmly established himself as the man to beat this season, turning the “pressure” of his international profile into a continued masterclass on the slopes.
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.
Source: Read Original News
