Verdú Misses Second Run in Sölden World Cup Giant Slalom by 14 Hundredths

Joan Verdú finished 35th in the opening run of the World Cup giant slalom season in Sölden, Austria, missing a place in the second leg by 14 hundredths of a second.

The Andorran skier, who started with bib 25, clocked 54.17 seconds, 1.77 seconds behind the fastest time of the day, set by Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen at 52.40. The cut for the second run was set by Germany's Anton Grammel at 54.03 seconds.

Verdú was on course for a strong result, sitting among the top 15 after the first two sectors. But an error on the flat section of the final stretch cost him speed and left him unable to recover. "I made a huge mistake that brought me to a complete stop in the lower section," he said. "It's an unforgivable error in that area, which gives no margin for error." He added that his run had been solid until then: "I was skiing well without taking too much risk."

Conditions in Sölden were affected by wind, which forced organisers to move the start to the reserve point and shorten the course to under a minute. Verdú nevertheless took positives from the performance, saying he was skiing comfortably and well.

After this opening race, Verdú is next scheduled to compete on 29 November at Copper Mountain in the United States. The calendar then continues at Beaver Creek on 6 December, before the European rounds at Val-d'Isère on 12 December and Alta Badia on 20 December.