Franjo Von Allmen Wins the Saslong Alpine Ski World Cup Downhill in Val Gardena

Franjo Von Allmen. Picture: HEAD SKI

Downhill World Champion Franjo Von Allmen led a 1-2 podium in the Alpine Ski World Cup Downhill event at Val Gardena with Marco Odermatt in second place, 0.30 seconds behind his teammate. The Swiss Downhillers stood out as an unmatched team in their own league. 24 hours after his crash in the Super-G, Franjo von Allmen appears unfazed on the Saslong, skiing aggressively and super fast. Not even an Odermatt on the limit was able to beat him. Italian Florian Schieder finished in third place, 0.98 seconds behind Von Allmen.

The 24-year-old emerging talent achieved his second Downhill win in the Alpine Ski World Cup today. He stands out as a name to watch among the favorites in Downhill. Von Almen, fourth in Beaver Creek and second in the first Downhill in the Saslong, has consistently placed within the Top 10 in his last ten World Cup races. He has achieved seven podium finishes in World Cup Downhill events.

Franjo Von Allmen's win in Val Gardena was the 17th time in succession that at least one Swiss skier has featured on a World Cup Downhill podium, the nation’s longest ever streak. However, Switzerland still has a long way to go to match the record of 33 consecutive Downhill podium finishes achieved by Austrian skiers during the 2002-2003 and 2005-2006 winter seasons.

"It's relatively easy for me to quickly move past the crash on Friday. I was able to maintain the pace well. But I never thought it would be enough to finish right at the front," said Von Allmen.

Marco Odermatt secured his eighth podium of the season in ten races. He only finished off the podium in two events: the Giant Slalom at Copper Mountain, where he had a DNF1, and the Super-G at Beaver Creek, where he placed fifth. After today's podium, Marco Odermatt leads the Giant Slalom, Super-G, Downhill, and Overall World Cup standings.

"At the moment, he is, with me, probably the fastest Downhiller in the world, and we push each other. We know if someone has the perfect run, it is very hard to beat, and for sure that pushes the whole sport. I’m very happy with my performance again. The end part of the Ciaslat was not perfect, but everything else I am very happy with," Odermatt said.

Italian skier Florian Schieder secured his third podium finish in the Alpine Ski World Cup today. His previous two podiums, also in Downhill, were in Kitzbühel in 2023 and 2024.

"It was another solid run today. It was a little bit faster than Thursday, but the slope was good, and I felt at the Ciaslat the lines were good. I didn’t know about the speed. I didn’t expect it, but I’m really happy now," Schieder said.