Switzerland Dominates Men’s Ski Combined as Italian Hopes Falter
A stunning performance by Switzerland 2 secured victory in the men’s ski combined event, while Italy faced a mixed day marked by promising starts and disappointing finishes. The Swiss duo of Franjo Von Allmen and Tangui Nef posted a total time of 2’44″04, leaving Austria and Switzerland 1 to battle for silver.
Swiss Triumph and a Tie for Second
The combined team format, which sees the downhill run preceding the slalom by approximately three hours, proved favorable for the Swiss. Franjo Von Allmen, building on his freestyle gold medal from February 7th, partnered with Tangui Nef to deliver a decisive win. A remarkably close contest for second place saw both Austria 1 (Kriechmayr-Feller) and Switzerland 1 (Odermatt-Meillard) finish with identical times, just 99 hundredths of a second behind the leaders. This unusual tie unfortunately relegated Austria 2 (Haaser-Matt) to fourth place, denying them a potential podium finish.
One analyst noted that Odermatt, despite another near miss for a title, continues to be a force in alpine skiing, though his teammate Meillard’s performance was less impactful in the slalom portion.
Italy’s Mixed Results and Vinatzer’s Struggles
Italy’s first team, comprised of Dominik Paris and Tommaso Sala, finished fifth, trailing the leaders by 1″12. While Paris showed positive form in the downhill, he lacked the explosive power needed to truly contend. Sala, returning from a serious injury, is still regaining his peak form, a factor acknowledged by team officials.
However, the day’s most significant disappointment for Italy came from Alex Vinatzer. A senior official described his slalom run as a “clear setback,” stating he “cleared the banquet table” with a cautious performance that erased the advantage gained by Giovanni Franzoni in the downhill. Vinatzer, who had a strong showing in the 2023 World Championship, finished a disheartening eighteenth in the slalom, 1″89 behind Nef – the third to last in the heat.
Recurring Concerns with Vinatzer’s Slalom Performance
This isn’t an isolated incident for Vinatzer. He previously faltered in a similar combined event at the 2023 Saalbach-Hinterglemm World Championship, impacting the performance of his partner, Dominik Paris. According to reports, Vinatzer has a history of struggling with consistency in slalom, despite demonstrating reactive feet and the ability to push himself on skis when on form.
The track itself was described as relatively easy, almost “scholastic,” making Vinatzer’s lackluster performance even more concerning. The question now looms: will he rediscover his spark as the Games progress?
Further Italian Setbacks and Overall Standings
Italy faced additional challenges with team number 4 being eliminated after Florian Schieder and Tobias Kastlunger suffered a fall during the free run. Italia 3, featuring Casse and Saccardi, managed a fourteenth-place finish, with Casse achieving twelfth in the downhill. Italia 1 ultimately settled for seventh place overall.
Despite Franzoni’s initial promise, setting the stage for a potential medal, the day ultimately belonged to Switzerland, highlighting the unpredictable nature of combined alpine skiing.
