In front of a raucous Schladming, Austria night crowd, Loic Meillard (SUI) won his second giant slalom race of the 2025-26 Alpine ski World Cup season. He posted a cumulative time of 2:14.38, besting a field of 61 other competitors. 

It was the Swiss star's ninth career Cup victory and second in Schladming (the first came in 2023).

Meillard likely will reunite with Swiss teammate Marco Odermatt for the Winter Olympic debut of the team combined in Milan Cortina. The duo are the reigning world champions in the event.

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA) put together another impressive pair of runs, claiming second place for the fourth time this Cup campaign (+0.73). The 25-year-old, who was born in Norway and now represents his mother's home country of Brazil, will look to become the first South American skier ever to earn a medal at the Winter Games.

Alban Elezi Cannaferina, a neophyte from Lyon, France secured the first podium of his young career (+0.90). The 22-year-old has started a grand total of 21 World Cup races and sat in the leader’s chair in Schladming until Meillard knocked him out.

The wooden spoon found its way to Odermatt, a mere 72 hours after his disappointing runner-up performance in the famed Kitzbuhel downhill. For any other skier, the result would have been cause for celebration, especially since it occurred at the most prestigious course on the World Cup circuit. "Odi" mourned the loss on the podium, shedding tears as he was unable to procure the one career accolade that's eluded him — a victory on the Streif. 

The fourth place in Schladming was a proverbial rubbing of salt in the wound. Still, Odermatt remains the overall leader in Cup points and will carve into Milan Cortina as a gold-medal favorite in the giant slalom, super-G and downhill. Should he win all three, he'd be the first skier in history to do so.

Seven Americans started the GS and only one qualified for Run 2. River Radamus (USA) posted the 9th-fastest time in Run 1, but then DNF'd in the second. The Edwards, Colorado native, who's never afraid to let it rip, lost control and spun out. He did not appear hurt. 

The next time Radamus competes will be in Milan Cortina, likely in the super-G on Feb. 11. 

Ryder Sarchett, another member of Team USA, did not finish his first run. In seven races this season, he's struggled to find consistency, posting four DNQs, a DNF, a 25th-place finish and 10th. He and Radamus are expected to race in the GS at the Winter Games.

Meanwhile, Bradshaw Underhill (USA), Bridger Gile (USA), Cooper Puckett (USA) and Isaiah Nelson (USA) did not qualify for Run 2, and Patrick Kenney (USA) DNF'd.

The men return to the Planai course in Schladming on Wednesday for the final slalom race before the Winter Olympic break. Run 1 simulcasts live on Peacock and NBCSN at 11:45 a.m. ET, followed by Run 2 at 2:45 p.m. ET.