Kranjska Gora, Slovenia – Marco Odermatt’s bid for the giant slalom crystal globe will move down to the wire after a disappointing fifth-place finish on Thursday, March 7, 2026. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen took the victory, while Loïc Meillard secured a spot on the podium.
Braathen claimed the win with a time 0.54 seconds faster than Meillard. Austrian Stefan Brennsteiner finished third, trailing by 0.80 seconds. Odermatt finished +1.33 seconds off the pace.
“Logically, it’s the worst-case scenario that he wins and I’m not right at the front,” Odermatt told SRF, as reported by Bluewin. “But everything is still possible.”
The result means Odermatt will have to fight for the crystal globe in the final race of the season. He had previously been expected to secure the title before the final competition. This marks a new situation for the Swiss skier, who has dominated the discipline in recent years.
Braathen’s win cuts Odermatt’s lead in the giant slalom standings to 48 points. Meillard remains a contender as well, though he trails Odermatt by a more significant 89 points. Nau.ch notes that Odermatt described the day as “the worst-case scenario” after struggling in both runs.
According to 20min.ch, this is the first time in four years Odermatt hasn’t had the giant slalom title secured before the final race. The competition for the crystal globe is heating up as the season nears its conclusion.
The Alpine season is reaching a critical point, with several titles still up for grabs. blue News reports that only one crystal globe has been awarded so far in the Alpine disciplines.
Meillard’s podium finish provides a boost as he looks to challenge Odermatt and Braathen in the final race. Watson highlights Meillard’s strong performance in Kranjska Gora.
