Von Allmen wins Kvitfjell Downhill to keep Globe race alive as Swiss sweep podium again

In another day of Swiss dominance on the men's speed slopes in Kvitfjell on Saturday, Franjo von Allmen (SUI/Head) topped Marco Odermatt (SUI/Stöckli) to keep his chances alive in the race for the Downhill Crystal Globe.

The 23-year-old rising star won his third race of a breakout World Cup season, leading another Swiss clean sweep ahead of Odermatt (+0.28s) and Stefan Rogentin (SUI/Fischer, +0.38s).

Von Allmen, who was fourth in Friday's first Downhill, stepped it up a gear on the Olympiabakken on Saturday with a stunning run to leave his teammates, and the rest of the field, in his wake.

"The colder temperatures and the colder snow was better for me (than Friday's conditions)," von Allmen said. "I feel more confident on the snow. I did no big mistakes, a solid run. It was fun to ski here."

With the victory and 100-point score, von Allmen drew to within 83 points of Odermatt in the Downhill globe standings with only one race remaining, at the World Cup Finals in Sun Valley, USA, on 22 March.

For von Allmen to clinch the globe, however, he must win that race and have Odermatt finish 15th or lower.

"Yeah, there is nothing lost," the young Swiss star said of gaining 20 points on Odermatt on Saturday in the race for the season title.

"The fight is pretty much clear, but you never know what happens. For me it is no sad moment if I don’t win the globe but it would be a top, top moment this season."

It was the second Swiss clean sweep in the last three Downhill races, and the sixth Swiss 1-2 in eight World Cup Downhills this season to underline their dominance — and their spirited rivalry with each other.

"We are still friends, even if we fight for the same globe," said defending Downhill champion Odermatt. "We have such a good atmosphere within the team. We still took the chairlift together after the inspection and to the start.

"We are rivals for those two minutes on the slope, but it does not change anything off the slope."

Seeking his third Downhill victory of the season, Odermatt was wild coming off the Wintherhogget early in his run and found himself playing catch-up to von Allmen the rest of the way down the course.

"The upper part was far away from my plan," the Stöckli superstar admitted. "I totally missed the line."

He recovered on the lower section through Tommy Moe to finish second for the second consecutive day after he was runner-up to Dominik Paris (ITA/Nordica) in Friday's first Downhill.

"For sure, yesterday, the second place smelled a little bit better than today," Odermatt said. "I had the feeling that I could also fight for the victory today, but I'm very happy with another podium."

Early leader Rogentin was pushed out of the red chair by von Allmen, but the 30-year-old came third for the second day in a row, having not finished higher than 13th in nine previous races in Kvitfjell.

"Awesome," was his reaction to his sudden change of fortunes in the Norwegian resort, which has resulted in the first two World Cup Downhill podiums of his career.

"In the past I had some problems on this hill, but this year, it has changed."

Paris, who pushed the Swiss down into positions 2-3-4 on Friday, couldn't reproduce that winning performance on Saturday and finished sixth, 0.59 seconds off the pace.

Ahead of the veteran Italian, Miha Hrobat (SLO/Atomic) just missed the podium by 0.05 seconds in fourth, while Adrian Smiseth Sejersted (NOR/Atomic) was fifth.

Despite their best efforts, the day belonged to Switzerland, as has been so often the case this season.

Rogentin was at a loss to explain the incredible Swiss form this winter, which includes claiming 17 of the 24 podium places in the eight World Cup Downhill races this season.

"Of course we have the momentum on our side," he said. "We have a good team spirit and this helps for sure, but what the key is, it’s hard to say."

With no technical explanation forthcoming, Rogentin simply stated the obvious: "At the moment, it works pretty well," he said.