The first podium in the World Cup career of ski racer Andreas Sander seemed almost certain.
For a long time, the German had been third in the Super-G in Beaver Creek in the United States on Thursday - until Canada's Broderick Thompson pushed the World Cup runner-up to the unpopular fourth place.
In the end, Sander was three hundredths of a second slower.
“I'm not angry at all.
I've tried everything and I'm super happy with my debut in the season, ”said the German after the race.
With his best World Cup result so far, the 32-year-old got the long-awaited ticket for the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.
After Romed Baumann, Sander is the second German who can plan for the ring festival in February.
Jocher wants to "attack fully"
The victory went to Marco Odermatt from Switzerland, who celebrated his second World Cup victory this winter after triumphing in the giant slalom in Sölden.
Olympic champion Matthias Mayer from Austria came in second, 0.78 seconds back.
Romed Baumann, who had finished sixth in Lake Louise the previous week, retired after a driving error.
The second best DSV starter was Simon Jocher (28th), followed by Josef Ferstl (32nd) and Dominik Schwaiger (36th).
“It wasn't entirely convincing.
I was a bit too passive, ”said Jocher.
In the coming days he then wants to "attack fully".
A total of four speed races in Beaver Creek are on the program this week.