In a surprising turn of events, Czech skier Jan Zabystran made history by clinching his first-ever World Cup victory at Val Gardena, Italy, on Friday. Zabystran, starting with bib number 29, became the first Czech man to win a World Cup race in 60 seasons, beating Swiss favorite Marco Odermatt by 0.22 seconds.
Benefiting from better lighting conditions, Zabystran excelled on the course, finishing ahead of Odermatt, who was poised to secure another win following his recent downhill victory. The unanticipated triumph by Zabystran, who had only achieved one top-10 result in his previous 56 World Cup races, left spectators and competitors in awe.
The unique weather conditions at Val Gardena often lead to unexpected outcomes, with late sunshine illuminating the course and favoring late starters. Zabystran’s exceptional performance was not solely attributed to luck, as he displayed remarkable skill throughout the race.
Odermatt, who had a strong showing earlier in the day, settled for second place, while Giovanni Franzoni secured a career-best third place finish. The race also saw other lower-ranked racers like Matthieu Bailet and Christof Innerhofer delivering notable performances.
With this victory, Zabystran joins the ranks of surprise winners at Val Gardena, showcasing his talent and potential on the world stage. Odermatt, on the other hand, maintained his lead in the overall World Cup standings and now leads the season-long super-G standings after three races.
The competition witnessed Brodie Seger as the top Canadian finisher, placing 14th overall. Zabystran’s triumph adds to the history of Val Gardena, where unexpected victories have become part of the alpine skiing tradition.