Franjo von Allmen narrowly beat his compatriot Marco Odermatt to claim victory in a World Cup downhill event on Saturday, continuing their trend of finishing 1-2 in races, which has become a highlight of the men’s skiing season leading up to the Milan Cortina Olympics. Von Allmen crossed the finish line 0.30 seconds ahead of Odermatt on the challenging Saslong course in Val Gardena, Italy. This marks the sixth time in the past 10 World Cup downhills that they have secured the top two positions, showcasing their dominance in the sport.
Expressing his satisfaction with the outcome, Von Allmen stated, “It’s really cool that I can share the podium again with Marco. Sometimes it’s me, sometimes him.” Odermatt, who had the fastest speed nearing 127 kph, settled for second place behind his rival. Only Florian Schieder of Italy managed to stay within a second of Von Allmen, finishing 0.98 seconds off the pace on the 3.45-km course. Jack Crawford from Toronto was the highest-ranking Canadian, finishing in 27th place.
Von Allmen, aged 24, now boasts three career wins in World Cup downhill races, with Odermatt consistently finishing as the runner-up. Odermatt, content with his second-place finish, acknowledged the fairness of Von Allmen’s victory. The intense rivalry between the two skiers has seen them both claim gold medals in downhill at the world championships held biennially since the 2022 Beijing Olympics, setting the stage for a highly anticipated showdown at the upcoming Winter Games on February 7.
Men’s alpine skiing at the Olympics will take place in Bormio, where Swiss skier Alexis Monney emerged victorious in the World Cup downhill last December, with Von Allmen securing the second spot. On the eventful race day, Monney and Ryan Cochran-Siegle of the United States suffered crashes, while Crawford showcased remarkable skill in landing a jump.
With Odermatt leading the overall World Cup standings in pursuit of his fifth consecutive title, Von Allmen narrowed the gap in the downhill points race. Despite the absence of former World Cup overall champion Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who is returning from a lengthy recovery after a crash in January 2024, both Odermatt and Von Allmen pushed their limits on the third consecutive race day.
The competition heated up on the slopes, with the later starters benefiting from improved conditions under the afternoon sun. Although the super-G winner Jan Zabystran, the first Czech man to win a World Cup race in 60 seasons, struggled with the No. 36 bib, Swiss racer Alessio Miggiano surprised by clinching fifth place with the No. 43 bib, narrowly missing a podium finish.