Franjo von Allmen narrowly clinched a World Cup downhill victory over his friend Marco Odermatt on Saturday, marking another impressive 1-2 finish in a series of intense battles between the Swiss skiing rivals. Their competitive performances on the challenging Saslong course in Val Gardena, Italy, showcased the pinnacle of men’s skiing in the lead-up to the Milan Cortina Olympics.
Von Allmen crossed the finish line 0.30 seconds ahead of Odermatt, with both athletes displaying aggressive and daring skiing skills. This victory marked the sixth occasion they have secured a 1-2 finish in the last ten World Cup downhill races since the same event in Val Gardena a year ago. Their dominance was evident as no other competitor came close to challenging them, with Odermatt reaching speeds close to 127 kph.
Reflecting on the race, Von Allmen shared his excitement about sharing the podium with Odermatt once again, acknowledging that victory alternates between them. The only other skier within a second of Von Allmen was Florian Schieder of Italy, who finished third, 0.98 seconds behind on the 3.45-km course.
Meanwhile, Toronto’s Jack Crawford finished 27th, representing the top Canadian performer of the day. Von Allmen, aged 24, now boasts three career wins in World Cup downhill races, with Odermatt consistently securing second place.
Looking ahead, their rivalry is anticipated to take center stage at the upcoming Winter Games on February 7, with both skiers having previously claimed gold medals in downhill events at the world championships. Men’s alpine skiing at the Olympics will be held in Bormio, where Swiss racer Alexis Monney emerged victorious in the World Cup downhill last December, with Von Allmen finishing as the runner-up.
Despite some mishaps on the course, including crashes by Monney and Ryan Cochran-Siegle, as well as a remarkable save by James Crawford, Von Allmen and Odermatt showcased their exceptional skills throughout the competition. With Odermatt solidifying his lead in the overall World Cup standings and Von Allmen narrowing the gap in the downhill points race, their performances set the stage for an exciting season ahead.
The event did not witness a repeat of the remarkable results from the previous day’s super-G race, but lesser-known Swiss racer Alessio Miggiano impressively secured fifth place. Jan Zabystran, the super-G winner and the first Czech man to claim victory in 60 seasons of World Cup racing, faced a tougher challenge on the downhill course, finishing almost three seconds behind the leaders with the No. 36 bib.