BORMIO, Italy -- Alexis Monney claimed his first World Cup victory Saturday in a downhill on the slope set to be used for the 2026 Winter Olympics after a rare mistake from his lauded Swiss teammate Marco Odermatt.
It appeared as if the 23-year-old Franjo Von Allmen, fourth out of the gate, was set to triumph after all the big names failed to beat his run down the famed Stelvio course in Bormio. But Monney, who started 19th, put down an even bolder run to finish 0.24 seconds ahead of his compatriot for a Swiss 1-2 finish.
At 24, Monney had never been on a World Cup podium before and had only two top-10 finishes to his name: 10th in Wengen last year and eighth in Kitzbühel earlier this January. "I don't know what to say. It is a crazy day," Monney said. "I can't find the words, but it is amazing and I am happy. It will be one of the best memories of my life."
Reflecting on his strategy, Monney stated, "I came to the start, and the plan stayed the same as this morning and yesterday. I was really focused, and I knew what I had in my head was good." Cameron Alexander of Canada secured third place, crossing the line 0.72 seconds behind Monney, which pushed Italian skier Mattia Casse off the podium by just seven hundredths of a second—much to the local fans' disappointment.
Meanwhile, Odermatt, the reigning champion, finished fifth, lagging 0.80 seconds behind Monney. It could have been worse for the downhill expert if he had not made an extraordinary recovery after veering off course mid-run. "I am lucky to be on my feet," Odermatt commented, before praising his younger teammates. "This is really amazing. They ski so well. They deserve everything. I'm really happy to be part of their success, even though they do it themselves."
He emphasized the camaraderie among the team, saying, "Nobody is the boss. We are all on a similar level; we try to help each other and have fun. They are all very kind, funny guys." The men’s Alpine skiing events at the upcoming 2026 Olympics will take place here at Bormio, which makes Monney’s victory all the more significant.
This win for Monney stands out not only because it is his first but also because it contributes to what has been dubbed the third Swiss double victory of the current season. "It's unbelievable! It was almost too easy today; normally, it’s much more difficult here," Monney exclaimed. "I thought after training I could achieve a good result, but not this good straight away!"
For Von Allmen, this race marked his third podium finish and second within the week, after breaking onto the scene by finishing second at Val Gardena just before Christmas. Monney and Von Allmen's bond was highlighted, with Monney joyfully commenting on the victory: "Wonderful. Franjo is a great guy, and he was really happy for me."
Yet the event was tinged with recent scares; the Stelvio course faced scrutiny following serious crashes during practice. Notably, French skier Cyprien Sarrazin underwent successful surgery for serious injuries from a crash during training merely days before the downhill event. He suffered from a subdural hematoma after losing control of his skis, which prompted wider discussion about course safety.
Following Sarrazin’s incident, criticisms of the Bormio slope intensified, with some athletes questioning whether it could safely host upcoming Olympic events. Amidst these criticisms, race director Markus Waldner stood firm, defending the credibility of the event's setup by stating, "Every week there is criticism of course preparations, but weather conditions affecting the snow play significant roles. Christmas Day saw high winds contributing to uneven snow coverage."
Looking forward, Bormio will also host super-G races as part of the festive season and the countdown to the Winter Olympics. Monney's remarkable win is likely to put him on track for future honors, especially considering the scale of competition he has just risen to meet.
This victory has set the perfect stage not only for Monney's burgeoning career but also for what may lie ahead for him at the Winter Olympics, where his youthful energy and recent determination could spark significant results for Switzerland.
