Smooth Monney tames Bormio piste to win first Downhill title

Marco Odermatt (SUI/ Stöckli) might be the greatest male skier alive at the moment, but he was the third best racer in an extraordinary Swiss team on Saturday, as two young guns put their names up in lights on the notorious Stelvio piste.

It looked like 23-year-old Franjo Von Allmen (SUI/ Head), third out of the gate, had secured his debut World Cup win after all the big names failed to beat his bold run down the bumpy piste. 

But then came Alexis Monney (SUI/ Stöckli), 24. Another Swiss racer of immense potential, he was steady on the treacherous mid section and built huge speed thanks to his crisp turns, finishing +0.24 seconds ahead.

Cameron Alexander (CAN/ Rossignol) came third to record his fourth career podium.

Odermatt made an extraordinary recovery from a mid-course error that sent his skis in opposite directions and inflated his suit, somehow getting back into position to finish fifth and stay top of the Downhill standings.

It was a day full of challenges on the Bormio piste, with a sombre mood in place after the training crash on Friday to Cyprien Sarrazin (FRA/ Rossignol).

Young Swiss guns continue remarkable progress
The Swiss team is flying: Justin Murisier (SUI/ Head) won the opening Downhill race of the Audi FIS World Cup season in Beaver Creek and Odermatt grabbed the glory in the second meeting, in Val Gardena. 

Von Allmen – second in Val Gardena – and Monney, look like the future.

Monney showed the skills that he must be observing in Odermatt on a daily basis – his clean arcs, paramount on this piste, were technically perfect where many others faltered.

Dominik Paris (ITA/ Nordica), a six-time Downhill winner here, made numerous errors to finish nearly three seconds behind, Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT/ Head) was hampered by the bumps and Ryan Cochran-Siegle (USA/ Head) walked away from a huge crash.

“I don’t know what to say, it is a crazy day,” said Monney. “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.

“I came to the start and the plan stayed the same as this morning and yesterday. I was really focused and I knew that what I had in my head was good.”

On Odermatt’s influence on the team, he added: “He is a great guy, amazing, always pushing us to be better.”

Von Allmen progress continues
Von Allmen was just as impressive as he clocked up his third career podium (he was third in a Super G in 2023-24). He was fast but relaxed, showing smooth turns throughout. 

“It is a tough Downhill, I didn’t expect this, but I am really happy with the result, and also with Monney, it is really cool,” he said. “This is the second World Cup season for me so I need to stay on the ground, and focused on my goals, for every race.

“My first training run was really bad. The second one was better and I had a great feeling on the slope.”

He also praised his team. “It is really cool, we have a really great team spirit. Marco is not just happy when he wins, he is also really happy when another one wins, or do a great result. It give us motivation.”

Alexander beats the bumps
Cameron Alexander kickstarted his Downhill season in Bormio, having registered a DNF and 29^th place finishing at the opening races. 

He attacked in all the right places to take his fourth career World Cup podium: he was third here in Bormio exactly a year ago, too.

“I was trying to push, it was definitely a little bit rougher, a little bit bumpier again today," he said.

"That was to be expected. I feel good about it. I don’t think there’s much of a secret, it’s just about trying to be over my skis.

“You don’t feel good necessarily anywhere on the course, but if you keep letting the skis go, you end up being pretty fast, and that’s enabled me to do well.”

The day belonged to the Swiss, however. Odermatt was first to celebrate his colleague’s excellence.

“This really amazing,” he said. “They ski so well, they deserve everything that comes to them. I’m really happy to be a part of their success a little bit, although they do it themselves.

“In our team, nobody is the boss. We are all on a similar level, we try to help each other, we try to have fun, they are all very kind, funny guys.”

Of his own day, he concluded, “I am lucky to be on my feet.”

The result means that Swiss racers now occupy the top four positions in the Downhill standings: Odermatt leads from Von Allmen, Murisier and Monney.

They will take a lot of beating when the Downhill tour reconvenes in Wengen on 18 January 2025.