Alpine skiing-Swiss Odermatt aims to tame Stelvio in race for gold

BORMIO, Italy, Feb 2 : Switzerland's Marco Odermatt will arrive in Bormio chasing multiple Olympic gold medals but given a choice he would probably settle for standing on top of the podium after Saturday's downhill on the iconic Stelvio course.

In the prime of his career, the 28-year-old remains the dominant force in men's Alpine ski racing and leads the World Cup standings in the three disciplines in which he competes.

Winner of the giant slalom in Beijing four years ago, Odermatt has made no secret of adjusting his focus towards the downhill and super-G events in preparation for this month's Milano Cortina Games.

Judging by his results this season, few would bet against him landing a golden double in the speed races.

In the six World Cup downhills this season Odermatt has won three and finished second in two, although he did miss the podium in Sunday's final Olympic rehearsal in Crans-Montana.

He is not as dominant in super-G but still won in Kitzbuehel two weeks ago.

"The aim was to come to the Olympics with confidence and then I'll take it race by race," Odermatt said. "The downhill race is the most iconic event at the Winter Olympics. Of course, winning a gold medal is one of my goals."

Odermatt and those trying to stop him, including team mate Franjo von Allmen who laid down a marker with victory in Crans-Montana, Stelvio king Dominik Paris and fellow Italian Giovanni Franzoni, begin their training runs on Wednesday.

They will need no introduction to the Stelvio - a 3.25-km brute considered one of the toughest courses in the sport.

With a 1,000 metre drop, gradients topping out at around 65 per cent and a reputation for being bumpy, icy and unforgiving, the line between risk and reward and a visit to the netting, or worse,