Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen showcased his dominance in the final men’s World Cup downhill event ahead of the Olympics, securing a second victory for Switzerland at the troubled Crans-Montana ski resort. Von Allmen’s triumph marked his second downhill win of the season and fourth overall, as he outpaced Italian veteran Dominik Paris by 0.65 seconds, posting a time of one minute 55 seconds. Von Allmen expressed his satisfaction with the slope, highlighting its challenging nature despite being enjoyable to ski on.
The upcoming alpine skiing events at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games will kick off with the men’s downhill on the renowned Stelvio course, where Paris, a six-time downhill champion, has excelled in past years. The competition in Sunday’s race intensified as Paris set a strong pace early on, only to be surpassed by von Allmen’s exceptional performance.
Under clear skies and sunny conditions, American skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle claimed third place, trailing 0.70 seconds behind the leader. Cochran-Siegle emphasized the joy of skiing in ideal weather conditions and expressed surprise at his competitive performance. The race also saw Marco Odermatt’s streak of top finishes come to an end as he settled for fourth place.
Notably, the top rankings were largely dominated by Swiss and Italian skiers, with Giovanni Franzoni missing the mark this time. Despite a breakout season with multiple podium finishes, Franzoni struggled in the event. Canadian skier Cameron Alexander showcased a strong performance, securing the top Canadian spot in 11th place.
Several top contenders, including Vincent Kriechmayr from Austria, opted out of the race to focus on preparing for the Olympics, where downhill training is set to commence soon. The competition faced a brief halt when Chilean racer Henrik von Appen encountered a crash, requiring airlifting for medical attention.
Von Allmen’s victory in Crans-Montana added to his previous success in the same location, setting the stage for the upcoming world championships in 2027. The race weekend was marked by somber reflections following a recent tragedy in the area, with the usual celebratory events being canceled out of respect for the victims. The event concluded with a moment of unity and remembrance, emphasizing solidarity in the skiing community.
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Keywords: ski, race, alpine, skiing, competition, victory, athletes, performance, championship, event, tragedy, solidarity, community, podium
