A controversial course adjustment marked the World Cup downhill race at Lauberhorn on Saturday, as officials shortened the track due to anticipated high winds.the decision,which sparked immediate criticism from racers adn experts,came despite reports of calming conditions prior to the start of the race,leading to questions about the accuracy of weather forecasting and the balance between safety and competition in elite skiing. Marco Odermatt ultimately claimed victory on the modified course, while Czech skier Jan Zabystřan suffered an injury during his run.
Race director Markus Waldner was reportedly furious after Saturday’s World Cup downhill in Tarvisio was shortened due to threatening winds. The longest downhill race of the season was started from a lower point, measuring just over 2.5 km instead of the usual 4480 meters.
“It’s clear I received a bad weather forecast,” Waldner fumed after the race.
The change was prompted by the anticipated “Guggiföhn” wind.
However, the weather prediction proved inaccurate. According to organizers, the upper portion of the course was expected to be windy throughout the day, but at 12:30 PM, conditions were calm, meaning the race could have started from the original location.
Former downhill racer and ORF expert Hans Knauss also expressed his frustration. “We need to be careful not to be overly cautious in our sport,” he commented, questioning the decision. He added that the Hundschopf section isn’t typically a major concern due to its protection from the wind, and even a gust on the Minsch-kante isn’t as dangerous as conditions at Beaver Creek’s Golden Eagle course.
Knauss believed that if a full start from the top wasn’t possible, a compromise should have been reached, starting the race at least from the beginning of a previous combined downhill course. “A downhill from Lauberhorn without jumping over Hundschopf isn’t a proper downhill from Lauberhorn,” he stated.
Christoph Leibundgut, a spokesperson for the Lauberhorn races, defended the decision, saying, “The Guggiföhn wind will always be unpredictable for meteorologists. The fact is that strong winds were still blowing in the upper part of the course an hour before the race.”
On the shortened course, Marco Odermatt of Switzerland claimed victory, securing his record-breaking fourth triumph at Lauberhorn in the World Cup era and solidifying his lead in both the downhill standings and the overall World Cup points race.
Jan Zabystřan finished 52nd, completing the race with a painful left arm and a deployed airbag after encountering difficulties in the middle section.
TARVISIO, Italy – Marco Odermatt powered to a record fourth World Cup downhill victory at Lauberhorn on Saturday, January 17, 2026, despite a controversial course shortening due to high winds. The race was started from a lower point, reducing the track length to just over 2.5 kilometers from its usual 4480 meters.
Race director Markus Waldner faced criticism for the decision, reportedly expressing his anger after a misjudged weather forecast led to the altered course. “It’s clear I received a bad weather forecast,” Waldner said following the race.
The change was made in anticipation of the unpredictable “Guggiföhn” wind, but organizers later confirmed that conditions had calmed by the scheduled race time. This revelation sparked debate among experts, including former downhill racer Hans Knauss, who questioned the caution shown by officials.
“We need to be careful not to be overly cautious in our sport,” Knauss stated, suggesting a compromise start point could have been utilized. “A downhill from Lauberhorn without jumping over Hundschopf isn’t a proper downhill from Lauberhorn.”
Organizers defended their decision, with spokesperson Christoph Leibundgut explaining that strong winds persisted in the upper sections of the course until shortly before the race. “The Guggiföhn wind will always be unpredictable for meteorologists,” he said.
Odermatt’s win extends his lead in the downhill standings and the overall World Cup points race, further cementing his position as a dominant force in the sport. The Swiss star navigated the shortened course with precision and speed, adding another impressive result to his already stellar season.
Czech skier Jan Zabystřan struggled on the course, finishing 52nd and sustaining an injury to his left arm, which activated his airbag during the run. The result leaves him outside the points and looking to rebound in upcoming races.
