Italy is showcasing a rising star in Alpine skiing as the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics draw near. Giovanni Franzoni secured his first World Cup win on the renowned Lauberhorn course in a super-G event, marking a poignant victory following the tragic loss of his close friend and former roommate, Matteo Franzoso, in a preseason training accident in Chile four months ago.
At 24 years old, Franzoni, a former world junior champion in super-G, downhill, and Alpine combined, set the pace as the first racer on the course and capitalized on his early start to deliver an exceptional run. With a top speed of 140.44 kph, Franzoni crossed the finish line 0.35 seconds ahead of Stefan Babinsky from Austria and 0.37 seconds ahead of Franjo von Allmen from Switzerland, the downhill world champion.
Meanwhile, Canada’s Jack Crawford finished 20th in the competition with a time of 1:47.65. Franzoni demonstrated exceptional skill in navigating challenging sections of the course, such as the Canadian Corner and Kernen S, outperforming his competitors.
Reflecting on his triumph, Franzoni expressed pride in conquering the turn where he had previously crashed, leading to season-ending thigh surgery in 2023. The Swiss overall World Cup leader, Marco Odermatt, a four-time winner in Wengen, secured a fourth-place finish, trailing by 0.53 seconds.
Ryan Cochran-Siegle was the top American finisher, claiming sixth place. Franzoni’s stellar performance in the downhill training sessions positions him as a strong contender for the upcoming downhill event. Notably, his previous best World Cup result was a third-place finish in a super-G race on home snow in Val Gardena the previous month.
As Italy prepares for the Winter Olympics in Bormio, Franzoni emerges as a key figure in the national team’s Alpine skiing lineup. Looking ahead, Franzoni expressed disbelief at his recent successes and emphasized living in the present moment. Notably, Austrian skier Marco Schwarz and Norwegian standout Aleksander Aamodt Kilde were absent from the race due to illness and recovery, respectively.
The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are set to commence on February 6, promising thrilling competition on the slopes as athletes from around the world vie for glory in Alpine skiing and other events.