In a thrilling pre-Olympic showdown on the icy Planai course in Schladming, Switzerland’s Loic Meillard seized victory in the final men’s World Cup giant slalom before the Winter Games. The night race witnessed intense competition as Meillard overturned Brazilian contender Lucas Pinheiro Braathen’s first-run advantage to claim his second World Cup victory this season and ninth overall.
Pinheiro Braathen, who had narrowly led after the initial run, ultimately fell short by 0.73 seconds despite entering the competition with strong momentum. The Brazilian skier, who made history last November by securing Brazil’s first top-level ski racing victory in Finland, expressed disappointment but acknowledged Meillard’s superior performance in the decisive second run.
The event produced a remarkable underdog story as unheralded French skier Alban Elezi Cannaferina delivered the fastest second-run time, catapulting from eighth position to claim his first career podium finish. His stunning performance displaced Olympic giant slalom champion Marco Odermatt from the podium, leaving the Swiss star in fourth position after a near-crash during his final run.
Meillard, who previously won on this same course three years ago, credited his improving form in recent weeks. The Swiss skier, who finished fifth in slalom at the 2022 Olympics, now enters the Winter Games with renewed confidence despite Odermatt maintaining the overall GS standings lead with 450 points.
The competition highlighted Pinheiro Braathen’s ongoing transition from representing Norway to competing for Brazil, his mother’s native country, following a 2023 dispute with the Norwegian ski federation over marketing rights. Despite five second-place finishes in giant slalom since switching federations, the Brazilian continues to demonstrate Olympic medal potential across multiple disciplines.