There is no place like home for Switzerland’s favorite skier Marco Odermatt, who cruised to victory for the fifth straight year in the giant slalom race in Adelboden, Switzerland.

Cheered on (and serenaded) by the roar of the Swiss fans, Odermatt looked indomitable on his home turf. The defending champion took a near half-second lead after the first run, an advantage that would prove invaluable as course conditions deteriorated later in the day, finishing with a total time of 2:31.23.

With the win, Odermatt moves into first place in the giant slalom Crystal Globe standings, overtaking Stefan Brennsteiner who was knocked out of contention in Adelboden after recording a DNF in the second run. The victory also puts Odermatt back on track to repeat his Crystal Globe sweep for the third consecutive season as he sits in first in the overall, downhill, giant slalom and super-G events. He does not compete in slalom competitions.

Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen took home second place with a pair of stunning runs, finishing a total of 0.49 seconds behind Odermatt. It is the second consecutive giant slalom race where the Brazilian finished in the runner-up position and his third total podium of the 2026 World Cup season thus far. 

Leo Anguenot put on a statement performance to claim third place (+0.68 seconds off the win). It is the Frenchman’s second ever World Cup podium, and his first since December 2024. The 27-year-old did everything he needed to keep pace in Adelboden, finishing fourth in the first heat and staying right on pace in run two to keep himself in contention. 

American River Radamus enjoyed a rollercoaster of a day en route to his 7th-place result. After finishing his first run 2.66 seconds off the pace, Radamus narrowly grabbed 30th position and became the last skier to qualify for the second run. However, placing 30th allowed Radamus to race first in the second heat, which may have gifted him slightly more favorable conditions than his opponents. He put together a cracking second run (1.22 seconds faster than his first and the fastest overall in the second heat) that vaulted him back up the standings.

"I didn't know if I was going to get a second run," Radamus admitted after the race. "Once I got a second run, I knew I had to take advantage and give it everything I had. I always feel that Adelboden is one of the special races, and it's a privilege just to be part of it. The crowd gives you so much energy, so I knew I wanted to do whatever I could to put on a show."

Several other Americans also logged times in the first run, finishing outside the top 30. Ryder Sarchett was the closest in 34th, 0.30 seconds behind Radamus for the second run cut off. Bridger Gile (50th) and George Steffey (55th) also finished, while Patrick Kenney and Isaiah Nelson didn't finish their first runs.

On an already difficult course in Adelboden, skiers had to battle increasingly difficult conditions throughout the day. Several skiers were hampered by low visibility, particularly in the rapid first sector of the course. As the snow picked up later into run two, athletes continued to struggle with staying on the racing line, fighting for every inch on the snow. Over the course of the two heats, the total number of athletes who failed to finish was a whopping 17.

With just a single night of rest coming up, much of the field will return to action on Sunday morning for the men's slalom event. The first runs will kick off at 4:30 a.m. ET.