Italian skier Giovanni Franzoni continued his impressive World Cup season by claiming victory on the renowned Streif course in Kitzbuhel, Austria. This win follows his recent success at Wengen, where he secured his first career win in the super-G event. Franzoni, a former junior world champion in multiple disciplines, achieved his breakthrough on the World Cup circuit just four months after the tragic loss of his close friend Matteo Franzoso.
In a thrilling race, Franzoni set the early pace and held on to secure the win despite fierce competition from world champion Marco Odermatt, who finished a close second. Maxence Muzaton, starting late in bib 29, also challenged Franzoni but ultimately settled for third place. Canadian skier Cam Alexander finished 14th, while last year’s winner, Jack Crawford, ended up in 23rd position.
Odermatt, who had dominated previous races, could not match Franzoni’s performance on the challenging course, expressing his disappointment at the finish line. Franzoni, on the other hand, showcased his skill and determination, leading both training runs and delivering a strong performance on the daunting Streif.
The Hahnenkamm weekend, a highlight of the World Cup calendar, drew a crowd of 45,000 spectators and featured notable guests such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jurgen Klopp, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and skiing legends Ingemar Stenmark and Franz Klammer. The event offers significant prize money, with 101,000 euros awarded to the top three finishers. The action-packed weekend will conclude with a slalom event on Sunday.
