Franjo Von Allmen soared to victory at the men's downhill race during the Ski World Cup event held at Crans-Montana, confirming Switzerland's dominance on the slopes. His remarkable time of 1:56.07 secured him the title, narrowly edging out fellow Swiss skier Marco Odermatt, who finished just 0.13 seconds behind.
The downhill race on February 22, 2025, took place on the historic Nationale slope, which hosted World Cup events for the last time back in 1998. This year, the course welcomed competitors with temperatures above zero and solid snow conditions, setting the stage for exhilarating performances.
Following closely behind Von Allmen was Alexis Monney, who completed the Swiss podium sweep, coming in at 1:56.49. This marked the first time since 1987 for Switzerland to achieve such a podium dominance, creating excitement among the home fans waving red-and-white flags.
"The first World Cup victory in downhill, especially here with the home crowd and two other Swiss guys on the podium, it feels amazing," said Von Allmen, who recently clinched the gold medal at the World Championships. He demonstrated impressive skill, recovering from minor mistakes during his race. The 23-year-old is rapidly advancing through the ranks, having already claimed one World Cup victory prior at the Super-G event earlier this season.
Marco Odermatt, recognized as one of the top skiers of the season, expressed his satisfaction with the race. "It's unbelievable. We've already had some special races this season with two on the podium," he remarked after the event. He currently leads the overall World Cup standings, showcasing his consistency with 11 podium finishes this winter.
On the Italian front, the competition was stiff, but Florian Schieder managed to be the best performer for Italy, claiming fifth place with his time of 1:56.89. Despite expectations for Dominik Paris, who had exhibited strong skill during prior races, he finished eighth, landing at 1:57.16. Another Italian, Mattia Casse, had hoped for more but could only secure fourteenth place, indicative of the competitive field.
The downhill event saw participation from various nationalities, yet it underscored the magnitude of the Swiss sweep. With both the men’s Super-G and the next downhill event quickly approaching, athletes are gearing for their next challenges. The Super-G race is set to take place on February 23, with coverage available through various broadcasters.
"I’m feeling let down because I have consistently been racing the past few months at a lower level than what I've shown I'm capable of from training runs," said U.S. skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle, who finished 13th. He and his teammates had strong training sessions leading up to this event, but translating practice performance to competition has not yet manifested for him this season.
The excitement of the Crans-Montana event reminds ski fans of the thrilling nature of alpine racing. Switzerland has once again proven why it remains synonymous with skiing excellence, as the victory not only celebrates individual achievement but also the power of team spirit and national pride on home snow.
The overall standings post-race demonstrate Von Allmen's growing prowess and the competitive nature continuing through the season. With many eyes turning to the Super-G, Sunday’s race is set to keep fans on the edge of their seats.
Fans of skiing can look forward to the upcoming competitions with anticipation. The next event sees skiers returning to Norway for another thrilling bout between the world’s fastest racers.