'Vamos!' Pinheiro Braathen's GS streak continues with Sölden win

If there was any suggestion that Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA/Atomic) would suffer a letdown this season after his extraordinary success earlier this year, those fears have been put to rest at the first time of asking.

The Brazilian won the season-opening Giant Slalom race in Sölden on Sunday, marking his fourth straight elite GS victory, including his Olympic triumph and the late-season wins that propelled him to the 2026 Crystal Globe.

Leading after the first run, Pinheiro Braathen skied aggressively but calmly in the second run to cruise to a deserved victory by nearly half a second over Loïc Meillard (SUI/Rossignol, +0.48s) and Marco Odermatt (SUI/Stöckli, +0.49s).

"There was a lot of pressure on my shoulders today," Pinheiro Braathen said, referencing the beginning of his title defense and the highly-anticipated resumption of his rivalry with former GS king Odermatt.

"But pressure is privilege and I was able to capitalize on that. What a relief to be able to open the show in this way."

After returning to the tour two years ago with Brazil following a year in retirement after his early career with Norway, the 26-year-old has methodically ticked off a series of firsts for the nation he now represents: first World Cup win, first Winter Olympic medal (and gold at that), first Crystal Globe.

Having reached those dizzying heights in such a short time, the philosophical Pinheiro Braathen put a lot of thought over the off-season into what would come next.

"I've been searching for new curiosities, new paths to evolve from last year's Olympic gold and the Globe," he said. "We're headed towards new goals, new objectives."

Yet he produced the same brilliant skiing that has repeatedly propeled him to the top of the podium in recent times. When he crossed the finish line in first place, he emphatically yelled "Vamos!" into the camera.

"Even already from the second half of last season, I was able to bring that freedom that came with being able to accomplish those results, and bring that spirit into the very first race (on Sunday)," he said.

"I didn't want to hesitate, I knew what I had in me, and I'm so, so proud to put it out there."

On a bumpy, windy course from the reserve state gate that reduced each run to under a minute, there was no room for errors or hesitation even as the skiers were trying to find the snow under their feet in their first race of the season.

While Pinheiro Braathen mastered the conditions the best, the Swiss pair of Meillard and Odermatt showed they are not far from the top of their game, even at this early stage of the season.

Meillard, in particular, tends to start slowly and work his way into the season, and he had never finished higher than fifth on the Rettenbach glacier before Sunday.

"Sölden and me haven't been friends in the last few years so to start the season with a podium and some solid skiing feels good," he said.

As the second-last skier on the mountain, he trailed provisional leader Odermatt at the final intermediate split, but used a scintillating closeout to overtake his teammate by the barest of margins in ski racing: one-hundredth of a second.

"I had a few times when I was one-hundredth behind, so now it's my turn to be in the front," Meillard said. "I guess next race, it's him again, and that's the beauty of the sport."

Odermatt, the four-time Giant Slalom title winner who lost his Olympic gold and his Crystal Globe to Pinheiro Braathen last season, was satisfied with third after having his pre-season affected by injury.

"To start the season with a podium is always nice," he said. "I made a big step in the second run: I found the race gear and that's the most important thing."

Odermatt's 47th World Cup Giant Slalom podium moved him ahead of Michael Von Gruenigen (SUI) and Vreni Schneider (SUI) for the most all-time among Swiss racers, and that podium was about the most he could have hoped for on this day.

"Lucas was too fast in the first run for the victory today," Odermatt admitted.

For Pinheiro Braathen, it was his second victory in Sölden after he triumphed in 2020 while racing for Norway, and the personal journey he has undertaken between those wins was not lost on him.

"It's amazing to look back at being able to be the youngest winner here and to come and do it again," he said.

"That's something very special for me. That very day here, when I was 20 years old, that changed my life."

Six years later, racing under a different flag and with new perspectives on skiing and life, it all came together for the Brazilian on Sunday.

"I was just able to be me, I was able to be so connected with myself, and it felt so fun to ski that second run," he said. "I knew that this was how I was supposed to feel. And that's the feeling that I chase every single day.

"For me, that's the true victory today."

Click here for full results from Sunday's race.