Von Allmen Dominates Crans-Montana Downhill, Sets Stage for Olympic Games
Franjo von Allmen emphatically launched the Olympic season with a commanding victory in the Crans-Montana downhill, securing the win for the second consecutive year and signaling his intent for the upcoming Games. The 24-year-old’s performance, coming just six days after a successful free run in Bormio, establishes him as a clear favorite as the alpine skiing world turns its attention to the Olympics.
A Commanding Performance on Piste Nationale
Von Allmen delivered an almost flawless run, expertly navigating the Piste Nationale from start to finish. He finished with a substantial 0.65-second advantage over Italy’s Dominik Paris, a margin that underscores the Swiss skier’s current form. The gap is particularly noteworthy considering the intense competition for the remaining podium positions.
Tight Battle for Second and Third
The battle for the final steps of the podium was fiercely contested, with Paris, Cochran-Siegle, and Marco Odermatt separated by a mere 0.14 seconds. Ultimately, Odermatt, currently leading the discipline with 115 points, had to settle for 4th place – his first time off the podium in the main discipline this season. Despite this, Odermatt maintains a significant lead over Von Allmen in the overall standings.
Swiss and Italian Supremacy
The downhill race further cemented the dominance of Swiss and Italian skiers in the event. Only Cochran-Siegle managed to break the stronghold, representing the sole non-Swiss or Italian skier in the top 10. Lars Rösti, Alessio Miggiano, and Alexis Monney secured 6th, 8th, and 10th place respectively, bookended by Italian competitors Alliod, Casse, and Schieder.
Further down the rankings, Giovanni Franzoni, the recent Kitzbühel winner, finished outside the top 20, trailing behind Livio Hiltbrand (13th) and a tie for 16th place between Niels Hintermann and Justin Murisier.
Von Allmen’s victory is a powerful statement ahead of the Olympic Games, demonstrating both his skill and consistency on the world stage.
