CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — A thrilling day for Swiss skiing unfolded as they celebrated a historic accomplishment, achieving a 1-2-3 finish in the World Cup men’s downhill for the first time in 29 years. This remarkable feat comes on the heels of their recent triumphs, solidifying their dominance on the slopes.
World champion Franjo von Allmen led the charge on Saturday, showcasing his skills on home snow just two weeks after clinching his inaugural gold medal. Despite a moment of unbalance after landing the final jump, Von Allmen secured victory by 0.13 seconds ahead of fellow teammate Marco Odermatt. Alexis Monney, the bronze medalist from the worlds, finished third, trailing Von Allmen by 0.42 seconds.
The Swiss speed team has been nothing short of exceptional this season, achieving victory in five out of six World Cup downhill events while consistently finishing in the top tiers. Their last podium sweep occurred way back in 1996 at Veysonnaz, where Bruno Kernen emerged victorious. During the victory ceremony, as the national anthem echoed, Von Allmen, Odermatt, and Monney displayed their team spirit by revealing matching buzz-cut hairstyles, a symbol of their camaraderie following a team bonding experience at the recent world championships in Saalbach, Austria.
Looking ahead, the Swiss team seems poised to dominate the downhill circuit as the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympics approach. With Odermatt being the oldest at 27, they have a promising lineup of athletes, many of whom typically reach their peak in their 30s. The trio’s impressive performance on the Nationale course, where the next world championships are set to take place in 2027, showcased their control and precision on the slopes.
“It just feels amazing,” Von Allmen remarked when attributed the success of the Swiss team this season. He noted that while it’s hard to pinpoint the exact reason for their success, factors like favorable weather might play a role. Both he and Monney have had exhilarating breakout seasons that complement Odermatt’s pursuit of a fourth consecutive overall World Cup title.
Odermatt expressed admiration for his teammates’ performances, stating, “It’s incredible what they show us this year. They are really hard to beat. I had a perfect run; I gave it all.” His solid showing earned him 80 World Cup points, extending his lead in the overall standings to 400 points ahead of Henrik Kristoffersen, who focuses on different event types and does not compete in speed races.
In addition to his two World Cup downhill wins this season, Odermatt maintains a comfortable lead in the discipline standings with 73 points over Von Allmen, who has been a consistent contender, finishing as runner-up in several races. Just last month, Von Allmen celebrated his first-ever World Cup victory in super-G, also held in Switzerland.
The day’s excitement was further enhanced by the uplifting news that teammate Niels Hintermann has been declared cancer-free, following challenges with lymph node cancer that prevented him from competing this season. Hintermann is a decorated athlete with two World Cup downhill victories to his name.
As the sun broke through on a chilly 1 Celsius (34 degrees) day, Monney, donning bib No. 6, had heightened visibility of the course ahead and recorded the fastest run down to the finish line near the chalet once owned by the late James Bond actor Roger Moore. Meanwhile, the second starter, Florian Schieder, registered the fastest speed of the day, clocking in at just above 126 kph (78 mph) on the 3.6-kilometer (2¼-mile) course.
Looking forward, a super-G race is slated for Sunday, marking the first competition since Odermatt’s world title win on February 7 in Saalbach, Austria.
