BORMIO, Italy — Alexis Monney secured his first-ever World Cup victory in the downhill race after a surprising misstep by his renowned Swiss teammate Marco Odermatt during the event on Saturday.
Initially, it seemed Franjo Van Allmen, who was the fourth skier to start, would clinch the win as the top contenders failed to better his time on the iconic Stelvio course in Bormio. However, Monney, starting from the 19th position, delivered an impressive performance that ultimately placed him 0.24 seconds ahead of Odermatt, completing a Swiss one-two finish.
This victory marks a significant milestone for Monney, who had not previously stood on a World Cup podium and had only achieved two top-10 finishes in his career, coming in 10th at Wengen in 2023 and eighth in Kitzbühel earlier this January. “It is a crazy day,” Monney expressed. “It is amazing, and I am happy. This will be one of the best memories of my life.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining focus throughout his run, stating that his plan had remained consistent from earlier in the week.
Canadian skier Cameron Alexander claimed third place, finishing 0.72 seconds behind Monney. His strong performance edged out Italian skier Mattia Casse, who was just seven hundredths of a second short of a podium finish, disappointing the enthusiastic local crowd. Odermatt ultimately placed fifth, trailing Monney by 0.80 seconds but managed to recover from a mid-course error that could have led to a more serious outcome.
The defending downhill champion, Odermatt, experienced a rare occurrence as his skis went in separate directions at one point. Remarkably, he regained his balance and completed the race while still holding onto the top spots in both downhill and overall standings. “I am lucky to be on my feet,” he commented, noting that his crash activated his airbag, leading to a few additional complications on the track.
Despite this, Odermatt lauded his younger teammates for their exceptional skiing skills. “This is really amazing,” he said, praising their performances and expressing delight in being able to support them in their achievements. He stressed the strong camaraderie within the Swiss team, highlighting that everyone is equal and aims to help each other succeed while also having fun.
The Swiss contingent is showing remarkable dominance in the downhill circuit this season. Justin Murisier took first place in the inaugural downhill race at Beaver Creek, while Odermatt triumphed at Val Gardena the previous weekend, where Van Allmen also finished second. Presently, they hold the top four positions in the downhill standings, with Odermatt leading the pack, followed by Van Allmen, Murisier, and Monney.
Van Allmen echoed the sentiments about the team spirit, stating, “It is really cool; we have a great team spirit. Marco is genuinely happy not just for his victories but also when others excel, which fuels our motivation.”
In a dramatic moment during the race, Ryan Cochran-Siegle faced a significant crash on the slope designated for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. He was leading after the first three splits and seemed poised for a podium spot before misjudging a gate and crashing out. Fortunately, he quickly rose to his feet, much to the collective relief of spectators, especially following the serious crash that last year’s champion, Cyprien Sarrazin, experienced during training on Friday, which required surgery for a brain bleed that was identified shortly after the incident.
The next event in Bormio involves a super-G race scheduled for Sunday.
