Switzerland's uniquely talented Marco Odermatt snatched his 50th World Cup victory on Thursday, December 18, at the Downhill in Gröden/Val Gardena, Italy, delivering a formidable run on the iconic Saslong in some of the trickiest conditions the circuit has seen this season. Racing through fog delays, snowfall, and a shortened course, Odermatt once again proved why he remains the benchmark in men's skiing.
One of the downhill trainings ahead of the race has also been canceled. A minimum of one downhill training is compulsory to hold a downhill race under FIS rules. Downhill training took place on Tuesday, December 2, while a second one is currently underway. Tuesday's fastest skier was Switzerland's Marco Odermatt, while Canada's Brodie Seger claimed a close second, just 0.40 seconds behind the 2024-25 Season Overall World Cup champion.