Santa Caterina di Valfurva (Italy) (AFP)

Unknown to the public and discreet on the circuit, the Slovenian Zan Kranjec, still 2nd on Saturday, is yet at the age of 28 one of the best giantists in the world, who must follow up with a 2nd race on Monday in Santa Caterina di Valfurva (Italy).

Marcel Hirscher until last year, Alexis Pinturault and Henrik Kristoffersen for years, youngsters Marco Odermatt and Lucas Braathen today ... The men's giant circuit has no shortage of stars.

In their shadow, the Slovenian Zan Kranjec is yet a member of the world top-5 for the third consecutive season.

"I do not know if I am underestimated", he wonders to AFP in a deep and calm voice, which contrasts with a shy smile.

“My competitors know what I'm capable of. But it's true that when my friends bet money on races, my odds are always very high, weirdly. Some guys behind me in the standings have lower odds. Maybe. being that I'm underestimated, I'm going to try to change that by being the best I can be, by winning as much as I can. "

Zan ("Jean" in Slovenian) Kranjec, to pronounce "Jeanne Kranièts", does not however lack good performances: since December 2017 he has seven podiums including two victories, twenty top-10 and no off the track in twenty-four starts into a World Cup giant.

"Kristoffersen and Pinturault have many years behind them, a lot of victories, podiums, championship medals, that's why we talk about them more. And maybe because of the country too."

- "They know my name, not my face" -

Zan Kranjec is indeed from Bukovica Pri Vodicah, a small village 10 minutes from Ljubljana where his father runs a construction company with ten employees, including his mother in the accountancy and his brother, destined to take up the torch.

The small central European country still has several virtuosos of alpine skiing, such as the double Olympic champion Tina Maze, winner of the big crystal globe with a record of points in 2013, or the double world champion in downhill title. Ilka Stuhec.

With this heritage, Kranjec begins to make a name for itself at home.

"When I walk around town not everyone recognizes me, but they know my name, not my face. When I perform well I see that I am more and more famous", says the one who is nicknamed "Kranho "by his team, Brazilian style, for their skills on the ball.

"I don't feel famous, not everyone asks me for pictures, I don't have to hide, I'm not Messi or Ronaldo or even Hirscher in Austria."

The dark-haired man with the thin face is missing an international medal: 5th at the Worlds in Are (Sweden) in 2019, he touched the Olympic medal in 2018, finally finishing 4th behind the "monster trio" of the discipline Marcel Hirscher, Henrik Kristoffersen and Alexis Pinturault.

"My goal is to win at least a small globe and medals at the World Championships and the Olympics", assumes Kranjec.

Goals achievable this winter at the Worlds in Cortina d'Ampezzo (Italy), then at the Beijing Olympics in 2022, to finally find a place in the sun.

© 2020 AFP