The skier from Isola 2000, Mathieu Faivre, clinches the first victory of his career in the World Cup on the Val d’Isรจre track. The Frenchman surpasses the masters of the discipline Hirscher and Pinturault.
A giant among giants. At 24 years old, Mathieu Faivre enters the club of World Cup winners. This Sunday, December 4th will forever be etched in the memory for the young skier from Isola 2000. “At home,” in the famous Val d’Isรจre resort, he goes above and beyond to edge out Austrian Marcel Hirscher, winner of 40 World Cup events, and his compatriot Alexis Pinturault, who has secured 16 victories.
Two flawless runs
Full of enthusiasm, always regarded as one of the most talented of his generation following his junior world title in February 2010, the Nice-born skier delivers a first run of very high quality. Despite two minor mistakes, he only concedes a hundredth to Hirscher. The second run would be a true technical performance. At the finish line, his name sits proudly at the top of the list. The five-time winner of the overall World Cup standings is relegated to half a second behind. This is what one calls a demonstration.
A promising last winter
For three winters now, Mathieu Faivre has been showcasing his skills in the World Cups. His first major breakthrough came in December 2013 at Beaver Creek (USA) with a fourth place at just 21 years old. Since then, he has achieved fifteen Top 10 finishes, including three podiums and one victory, this Sunday. The skier from Nice stepped onto his first “boxes” last winter with a second place in Yuzawa (Japan) in February and a third place at the finals in St. Moritz (Switzerland).
Now, he is a very solid giant slalom specialist, well established among the top seven, ensuring an excellent starting bib. The next appointment is on Saturday, also in Val d’Isรจre, for another giant slalom race but on the legendary and challenging Face de Bellevarde.