Yesterday was the women’s Giant Slalom at the 2025-26 World Cup season opener in Sölden, Austria. Sunday, October 26. will see the men’s Giant Slalom.
With 75 men from 26 nations at the start, it will surely be an exciting day at the Rettenbach Glacier. Will Austria back it up with a double victory after Julia Scheib’s victory on Saturday, will we see a Norwegian podium like last year, or could this be Brazil’s first-ever victory? We cannot wait to see.
The men’s bib draw was held on Saturday night. Here is the starting order for Sunday’s Giant Slalom:
1 – Stefan Brennsteiner (AUT)
2 – Zan Kranjec (SLO)
3 – Marco Odermatt (SUI)
4 – Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA)
5 – Thomas Tumler (SUI)
6 – Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR)
7 – Loic Meillard (SUI)
8 – Marco Schwarz (AUT)
9 – Atle Lie McGrath (NOR)
10 – Filip Zubcic (CRO)
11 – Luca De Aliprandini (ITA)
12 – River Radamus (USA)
13 – Thibaut Favrot (FRA)
14 – Timon Haugan (NOR)
15 – Patrick Feurstein (AUT)
16 – Raphael Haaser (AUT)
17 – Leo Anguenot (FRA)
18 – Joan Verdu (AND)
19 – Anton Grammel (GER)
20 – Sam Maes (BEL)
21 – Luca Aerni (SUI)
22 – Alex Vinatzer (ITA)
23 – Alexander Schmid (GER)
24 – Alexis Pinturault (FRA)
25 – Filippo Della Vite (ITA)
26 – Tormis Laine (EST)
27 – Fabian Gratz (GER)
28 – Jonas Stockinger (GER)
29 – Giovanni Borsotti (ITA)
30 – Manuel Feller (AUT)
31 – Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT)
32 – Alban Elezi Cannaférina (FRA)
33 – Flavio Vitale (FRA)
34 – Christian Borgnæs (DEN)
35 – Eirik Hystad Solberg (NOR)
36 – Rasmus Bakkevig (NOR)
37 – Seigo Kato (JPN)
38 – Lenz Hächler (SUI)
39 – Lukas Feurstein (AUT)
40 – Fabian Ax Swartz (SWE)
41 – Oscar Andreas Sandvik (NOR)
42 – Giovanni Franzoni (ITA)
43 – Louis Mühlen-Schulte (AUS)
44 – Diego Orecchioni (FRA)
45 – Andreas Zampa (SVK)
46 – Bridger Gile (USA)
47 – Tiziano Gravier (ARG)
48 – Erik Read (CAN)
49 – Aleix Aubert Serracanta (ESP)
50 – Andrej Drukarov (LTU)
51 – Isaiah Nelson (USA)
52 – Fadri Janutin (SUI)
53 – Loevan Parand (FRA)
54 – Ryder Sarchett (USA)
55 – Joshua Sturm (AUT)
56 – Guerlain Favre (FRA)
57 – Livio Simonet (SUI)
58 – Sandro Zurbruegg (SUI)
59 – William Hansson (SWE)
60 – Linus Strasser (GER)
61 – Cooper Puckett (USA)
62 – Piotr Habdas (POL)
63 – Tobias Kastlunger (ITA)
64 – Semyel Bissig (SUI)
65 – Adam Zampa (SVK)
66 – Patrick Kenney (USA)
67 – Freddy Carrick-Smith (GBR)
68 – Miha Oserban (SLO)
69 – Ryoma Katayama (JPN)
70 – Hannes Amman (GER)
71 – William St-Germain (CAN)
72 – Pietro Tranchina (MAR)
73 – Jeongwoo Shin (KOR)
74 – Adam Hofstedt (SWE)
75 – Fredrik Moeller (NOR)
Team USA is sending six starters: River Radamus is the only one in the top 30 with bib 12 today. Bridger Gile, Isaiah Nelson, Ryder Sarchett, Cooper Puckett, and Patrick Kenney are also at the start under the star-spangled banner.
Switzerland is sending the most competitors with nine starters, while host Austria is sending eight, as is France. Norway has seven men representing the nation, while Germany and Italy each have six starters. Sweden is represented by three men, while Canada, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Japan have two skiers each. The remaining countries have only one skier each, including Team GB, which is sending 18-year-old rookie Freddy Carrick-Smith into his first race. He will be the youngest British skier to start at a World Cup race in 40 years.
The 75 skiers are divided into four distinct groups: the top 7, the top 15, the top 30, and the rest. The top 30 have a bib lottery that determines the starting order, while the remaining skiers start according to their FIS rankings. However, the top 7 skiers are subject to a separate bib draw for the coveted first seven starting slots.
Background on the Top 7 Starters:
Stefan Brennsteiner in bib 1 is an experienced Austrian Giant Slalom specialist who made his World Cup debut at Sölden 13 years ago. Brennsteiner is known for his powerful, technical skiing and consistency on challenging World Cup courses. After years of persistence, he earned his first World Cup podiums later in his career, and now has four Giant Slalom podiums to his name. He finished the 2024-25 season in ninth place.
Slovenia’s Žan Kranjec is one of the most respected Giant Slalom racers on the circuit, admired for his smooth, balanced style and precision. The Olympic silver medallist is consistently among the top contenders in the discipline and remains a cornerstone of Slovenia’s Alpine team. He has racked up 15 podiums, including two victories on the World Cup circuit and finished the 2024-25 season in eight place.
Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt is the current dominant force in men’s Alpine skiing. The defending Olympic Giant Slalom Champion combines raw power with flawless technique, particularly in Giant Slalom and Super-G. Odermatt is the one to beat on the World Cup circuit, which might be hard, considering he has held the Overall Season Title as well as the Giant Slalom Season Title for the last four seasons. His dominance seems to know no end and at only 28 years of age, Odermatt is far from retiring or having peaked. He could become the most successful male skier of all time. Currently he has amassed 45 World Cup victories and holds the record for the most FIS points earned in a season.
Now representing Brazil after switching from Norway, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen is one of the sport’s most charismatic and talented young skiers. Known for his creativity, explosive turns, and fearless approach, he’s redefining what’s possible on the technical side of Alpine skiing. He is the most colorful character on the World Cup circuit but has the potential to also become the most dominant force in tech disciplines. The 25-year-old is just starting to unleash his full potential and we cannot wait to see what this season brings for him—hopefully the first ever victory for Brazil. He finished last season in sixth place in the Giant Slalom standings.
- Related: Lucas Braathen, the Norwegian-Brazilian Trailblazer, Who Hopes to Unleash his Superpower This Season
A veteran of the Swiss team, Thomas Tumler has carved out a steady World Cup career with notable performances in Giant slalom and Super-G. His experience and ability to perform under pressure make him a valuable presence in a deep Swiss squad. The Engadin-native won his first World Cup last season in Beaver Creek, Colorado, and finished the season in equal sixth.
One of the most successful technical skiers of his generation, Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen has claimed five season titles—four in Slalom and one in Giant Slalom—and has won 33 World Cups races, 25 Slalom and eight Giant Slalom races. Renowned for his intensity, precision, and competitive drive, he remains a fierce rival to Odermatt and finished the season in second place in the Overall as well as the Giant Slalom standings, right on the heel of his Swiss rival.
Loïc Meillard is the third skier in the top 7 and is a seasoned World Cup ski racer. With 29 podiums, including seven victories, Meillard is consistent force on the circuit. A versatile skier capable of excelling across multiple disciplines, he finished the 2024-25 season in third place overall. The last two seasons have been the best of his 10-year career and it seems he is truly coming into his own. At 28 years of age, there is still plenty of potential in this Swiss skier, although it is hard to shine when Odermatt is your teammate.
