A 27-year-old Czech skier, Jan Zabystran, stunned the Alpine skiing world by taking a World Cup super-G title in Val Gardena, Italy, on Friday, beating the Swiss superstar Marco Odermatt by 0.22 seconds.
A Historic Czech Victory
Jan Zabystran became the first Czech man in 60 years to win a World Cup race. He started the super-G with bib No. 29, while Odermatt occupied the leader’s box at the finish area, looking poised to follow his downhill win from Thursday. Zabystran’s victory denied Odermatt another World Cup victory.
The Course and the Light
Val Gardena’s course, nestled in the Dolomites, is known for its late-day sunshine that can change the outcome for later starters. Zabystran capitalised on better light, finishing 0.22 seconds ahead of Odermatt. He was fastest on the sun-bated lower section and also posted the quickest split in the top section, showing his win was not pure luck.
> “It’s a beautiful day,” Zabystran said. “I saw the green light, it’s something crazy.”
Odermatt had raced about 50 minutes earlier, in darker light just before midday. He described the conditions as flat and hard to see.
> “I did everything I could,” Odermatt said. “The light was so flat you couldn’t see much. We know Val Gardena is different, you have to wait till the last guy.”
A Tribute on the Slalom
Third-placed Giovanni Franzoni, the former world junior champion in super-G, earned a career-best result, 0.37 seconds behind Zabystran. With start bib No. 16, he was among the first racers to enjoy the blazing sunshine on the lower section.
> “This is for him,” said the 24-year-old Franzoni, who has described Franzoso as like an older brother to him. “I think he would be proud of me.”
Franzoni’s tribute was to his close friend and roommate, Matteo Franzoso, who died in a crash in September while training in Chile.
Other Low-Ranked Shiners
The race also highlighted other unexpected performers. Matthieu Bailet, starting with bib No. 43, finished fifth. Italian veteran Christof Innerhofer, with bib No. 30, took sixth place, immediately after Zabystran.
Zabystran’s Journey to the Podium
Before this win, Zabystran had only one top-10 result in his previous 56 World Cup races. His best World Cup finish was eighth place in a super-G in Norway last year. He has competed in two Winter Olympics, failing to finish six of nine events, with his best result being 25th.
The Czech men’s team had previously achieved third-place finishes in combined events by Ondrej Bank in 2007 and 2015. Zabystran said, “After a really good last season I thought that maybe some day I can have a podium like Ondrej Bank,” dedicating his win to “every sportsman who pushes hard and never stops believing in it.”
Odermatt’s Dominance Remains
Despite the upset, Odermatt remained dominant. He was the only one among the first ten starters to finish in the top ten. The win extended his huge lead in the overall World Cup standings as he chases a fifth straight title. He now leads the season-long super-G standings after three races and will again be the favorite Saturday in another downhill.
Key Takeaways
- Jan Zabystran’s win marks the first Czech World Cup victory in 60 years, beating Marco Odermatt by 0.22 seconds.
- Late-day sunshine at Val Gardena can overturn expectations, as seen with Zabystran’s advantage.
- Giovanni Franzoni’s career-best finish honored his late friend Matteo Franzoso.
The race showcased how unpredictable alpine skiing can be, with a low-ranked Czech skier rising to the top and a seasoned champion still holding his ground in the overall standings.
