No fewer than seven Norwegians took part in the final round of the giant slalom race in Sölden. But despite a day with several strong Norwegian performances, no one was going to make it to the top. Marco Odermatt won the first match of the World Cup, 76 hundredths ahead of Slovenian Zan Kranjec.

Henrik Kristoffersen became Norway’s best man in third place. The 28-year-old was delighted after the podium. He has always fought in Sölden.

– Big day. It was especially the last 48 hours with everything that happened, Kristoffersen tells NRK.

– It was for him

Kristoffersen was clearly affected and is taking the opportunity to pay tribute to late Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz, who died aged 78 on Saturday. The Norwegian has had Red Bull as a sponsor for several years.

– I am one hundred percent sure both of Marco (Odermatt) and for my part that …, says Kristoffersen, and has to pause briefly before adding:

– It was for him.

– Did it affect you today?

– When you run, you have to focus on what you have to do anyway. It’s very special because he has done so much for the sport and the athletes. It is an incredible person who died, he replies.

Sunday’s winner and also sponsored by Red Bull, Odermatt also chooses to find the words of praise about Mateschitz. He heard the news this morning.

– I didn’t know him very well, but he was a great person for skiing and for everyone in the sport. It is very sad that he passed away. I think the whole Red Bull family would do good skiing today for him. I am happy to share this victory with him, he confides to NRK.

Kudos to the team effort

Kristoffersen was in the lead for a while after finishing sixth in the final round, but fell two spots. Lucas Braathen finished fourth after being second before the final.

– It’s not fun to be fourth, but in the end I’m proud of the job I did today, Braathen told NRK.

Rasmus Windingstad also impressed in the final round. bearing was in 12th place after the first lap, but worked his way up to fifth.

– It was incredibly nice of them to get off to such a good start. Sölden becomes a favorite, that is. It was a bit of a mess in the middle with the starting number today, so I’m very happy that I was able to get such a good result, Windingstad told NRK.

As a result, three Norwegians in total found themselves in the top five at the World Cup opener.

– This is completely crazy. We’re a bit of a team, it’s fun to be part of it. I will almost think after the fact that I was part of the best alpine team Norway had, Windingstad said of the team’s performance.

Satisfied with the conditions

Atle Lie McGrath was well pleased with the first round in Sölden, but couldn’t fight for the top spots. He took 18th place. McGrath also chooses to pay tribute to the team’s performance.

– Completely wild. The fact that there are seven Norwegians in the final is pretty cool. It’s a pretty raw effort from the gang today. Really fun to be part of, he told NRK.

Kristoffersen was 95 hundredths behind Odermatt before the final, and could never catch the Swiss – very happy after the victory in Sölden.

– It’s fantastic and a perfect start to the season. It was a tough race with snow in the second half. But yes, a perfect start, Odermatt tells NRK.

Odermatt won the overall World Cup last season and plans to repeat the feat this year as well. He feels it was important to get off to a good start.

– It is very important. It shows that you are on the right track. That the summer has been good and no other nation has figured out how to drive two or three seconds faster. I think the Norwegian team looks strong this winter. THE “pushed” again, also with young people. It will be a good winter, he said.

After several days of bad weather, Kristoffersen stressed that the conditions in Sölden were very good.

– The second half will be more hectic, so it is possible to take more time. It’s the easiest Sölden I’ve ever driven. I think everyone says that, he said between sets and was supported by McGrath.

– I would say this is the easiest tour I have done in Sölden so far. It was a very nice relationship. “I drove tactically the way I wanted, considering I never got to the second half here,” he said.

I have heavy

Aamodt Kilde had a little more trouble in Sölden. He was way behind after the first lap and chased when he had suspension issues in the final.

– It’s a bit typical when you’ve done a bit of hang skiing in slalom, it’s a bit easy to get excited and lose your mind. It’s truly sad, said the Alpine ensemble to NRK.

He thus had a difficult start in the hunt for the general’s ball.

Alexander Steen Olsen impressed in his first senior race at Sölden. The 21-year-old had a good first round but didn’t quite manage to get things going in the final. Steen Olsen finished in 19th place.

– It was fun. Get a nice surprise to walk into the shed and feel there were good conditions. Then it was just a matter of food, the youngster told NRK before the start of the final.

Leif Kristian Nestvold-Haugen was number 14, his best position in over a year and a half. Fabian Wilkens Solheim failed to qualify for the final round.