WENGEN, Switzerland — The Swiss men’s team, along with their enthusiastic supporters, experienced an exhilarating five minutes that will be remembered in the history of Alpine skiing. Marco Odermatt, a leading figure in men’s skiing, triumphantly navigated the lengthy and uniquely challenging World Cup downhill course, narrowly overtaking his teammate Franjo von Allmen to clinch victory in the prestigious Lauberhorn race.
As Odermatt awaited his turn at the starting gate, Von Allmen thrilled a raucous crowd of 40,000 spectators by achieving the fastest time shortly after securing his maiden World Cup win in super-G the previous day. The exhilarating atmosphere was amplified by ideal racing conditions, with the snow firm and fast beneath bright blue skies and temperatures hovering around 2 degrees Celsius (36 degrees Fahrenheit) at the finish line.
“This is my house!” Odermatt exclaimed in English upon realizing he had outpaced Von Allmen by 0.37 seconds. In third place, Miha Hrobat finished 0.57 seconds behind, having set a competitive benchmark as the first racer on the course.
Odermatt later dedicated his win to Swiss teammate Daniel Yule, who had echoed a similar sentiment during his slalom victory in nearby Adelboden back in 2020. The camaraderie was evident as Von Allmen hugged Odermatt, exchanging joyful smiles while graciously relinquishing his spot in the course-side leader’s box to his close friend.
Wengen seems to be establishing itself as Odermatt’s domain, as he had already claimed victories in both downhill events on this course last year. He had also secured the runner-up position behind Aleksander Aamodt Kilde in the two prior years, though Kilde is presently recovering from injuries sustained during a crash in Wengen last season.
“This is the most significant race for me this year,” Odermatt shared with Swiss broadcaster RTS regarding the iconic Lauberhorn downhill, which is celebrating its 95th anniversary and holds a special place in Switzerland’s sports and cultural events.
“It’s super cool. Conditions today were flawless — the course, the snow. The feeling on my feet was fantastic,” stated the three-time reigning overall World Cup champion, who has now extended his lead in the standings.
The fast snow conditions contributed to impressive skiing speeds, with Italian veteran Dominik Paris recording a speed of 154.99 kph (96 mph) during the challenging Haneggschuss section. This is where Johan Clarey set the World Cup record speed of 161.9 kph (100.6 mph) back in 2013. Paris ultimately finished fourth in the race.
Despite the excitement, the demanding 4.45-kilometer (2 ¾-mile) course, which weaves through the breathtaking landscapes of the Eiger, Jungfrau, and Mönch mountains, proved treacherous. Two-time Lauberhorn winner Vincent Kriechmayr suffered a severe crash into the safety fences just before the final turn. Although Kriechmayr managed to stand up, he was later seen limping due to what the Austrian team described as a severe ligament strain in his knee.
In another unfortunate incident, French racer Blaise Giezendanner was airlifted from the course after a mid-run crash, with his team later confirming he had torn the ACL in his right knee.
In the overall standings, Odermatt continues to lead in the downhill category with Von Allmen right behind him, who has placed second in three consecutive downhill events. Remarkably, Von Allmen, just in his second year competing in Wengen, has already established himself among elite racers, moving up from a 14th place finish in both of Odermatt’s previous victories.
Von Allmen was recognized in the finish area by International Ski Federation president Johan Eliasch, who also oversees the Head ski brand that the promising Swiss athlete uses. The men from Switzerland have consistently dominated this season, finishing first and second in all four World Cup downhill races. Odermatt claims two wins, while Justin Murisier and Alexis Monney have taken the other two victories.
“It’s incredible; credit is due to them,” Eliasch remarked. “The sheer dominance in speed across the board sets a benchmark for everyone else.” The next classic event for the downhill competitors is the Hahnenkamm at Kitzbühel, slated for next Saturday. Though the course is shorter than Wengen’s, it remains one of the most feared challenges in the circuit.
