LA VILLA, Italy (AP) 鈥� Olympic champion. World champion. And virtually unbeatable on the World Cup circuit.
When it comes to giant slalom, is completely dominant.
The Swiss skier won the Alta Badia giant slalom for the second time in two days on Monday and extended his winning streak in the discipline to six races.
Odermatt established a big lead in the opening run down the steep and icy Gran Risa course. Then he added to his advantage in the second run to finish a massive 1.05 seconds ahead of Marco Schwarz and 1.22 ahead of Zan Kranjec.
Toronto's James Crawford was the top Canadian in 22nd place.
鈥淭wo amazing days,鈥� Odermatt said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so nice to come here into the finish with another victory, in the Dolomites with the last sun of the day.鈥�
It was Odermatt鈥檚 fourth victory in Alta Badia, where Marcel Hirscher holds the record of six victories 鈥� won consecutively from 2013-18; and his 27th win overall on the World Cup circuit. Alberto Tomba also won four times on the Gran Risa.
鈥淚t's nice to be part of history,鈥� Odermatt said.
Schwarz, who across all disciplines this season, is second in both the GS and overall standings behind Odermatt. He trails by 92 points in the overall.
鈥淗opefully it鈥檚 going to be a good battle for the whole season,鈥� Schwarz said.
It marked the fifth time that Kranjec finished third in Alta Badia.
Filip Zubcic was approaching Odermatt鈥檚 pace in the first leg before he made a costly mistake. Then the Croatian dropped from second to fourth in the second leg, 1.36 behind.
Combined world champion Alexis Pinturault finished fifth.
Austrian skier Stefan Brennsteiner lost control in the opening run and slid backwards into the safety nets but appeared to avoid serious injury.
Joan Verdu, who recently became the first Andorran skier on a World Cup podium, also had trouble and went out midway down during the morning leg.
River Radamus was the top American finisher in 14th.
The men鈥檚 circuit resumes with a night slalom in Madonna Di Campiglio on Friday.
___
More AP skiing:
The Associated Press
