Like last year, when he thwarted the odds by becoming world champion in the specialty in Cortina d'Ampezzo (Italy), the 30-year-old from Nice resurfaced at the best time after a mixed start to the season.

Author of a first run with technical fluidity, with the third fastest time, Faivre completed the second 1 sec 34 from Odermatt, while Kranjec came out with a dazzling race to snatch silver (19/100th from the Swiss) .

Frenchman Mathieu Faivre, during the second round of the giant of the Beijing Olympics, on February 13, 2022 at the Yanqing National Alpine Ski Center Fabrice COFFRINI AFP

"I didn't really feel good in the second, it was very tough because of the conditions and the surface, but I ended the day so happy," said the Frenchman, "looking forward to sharing" his joy with his team. and his relatives.

"Team Performance"

Alexis Pinturault, holder of the globe in the discipline but reduced by a shoulder injury, rose to fifth place after setting the eleventh time in the first heat, tied with Thibaut Favrot (1 sec 69 behind the winner).

"It's great. I'm thinking of Mathieu first", among "the best in the world in this discipline for some time", and "relatively quiet strength" capable of "remaining serene", greeted the Savoyard.

Frenchman Alexis Pinturault answers a journalist's questions after finishing 5th in the giant of the Beijing Olympics on February 13, 2022 on the Yanqing Joe KLAMAR AFP site

The Courchevel skier was also delighted with the "team performance", with three Frenchmen in the top five, while the Blues had already placed four competitors in the Top 7 at the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympics (Pinturault in bronze, Thomas Fanara 5th, Victor Muffat-Jeandet 6th and Mathieu Faivre 7th).

Arrived "very young and very talented", Faivre "was confronted with Alexis all his career" and went through "many difficult times", for his part recalled Favrot, "happy to (have) given his all".

"I ripped myself off and I'm just very proud of myself. The second run was difficult, when you get up at 6:00 a.m. and run the second at 4:00 p.m., it's been a long day," said the Alsatian.

Odermatt logically sacred

A surprise guest on this arid massif, hitherto bathed in bright sunshine, the snow transformed the race into a high-risk game, with mounds of powder at each turn, knocking out nearly half of the 89 entered.

In this game, Odermatt once again showed his talents as a tightrope walker, failing to slip on the flank during the first round before shaving a door in the second, but at the age of 24 he won his first Olympic title.

"Marco is the most beautiful winner we could have this year on this giant", recognized Pinturault, who had dominated the young Swiss at the finish last year in the race for the big globe and the giant globe.

The joy of Swiss Marco Odermatt, carried in triumph after his title of giant Olympic champion at the Beijing Games, on February 13, 2022 at the Yanqing National Alpine Ski Center Dimitar DILKOFF AFP

The tall blond concretizes his overwhelming domination over the discipline this season (four victories and a second place in five races) and makes up for his missed Olympic debut, with a seventh place in downhill and a super-G off the track.

“Marco is the best in the world right now, so he deserved to win today, with all the pressure he had on his shoulders,” praised young American River Radamus, fourth, dyed zebra-colored hair for his first Games.

© 2022 AFP