Cyprien Sarrazin dominates Hahnenkamm Downhill for second victory in two days
Jan 20, 2024·Alpine Skiing
Executing a fearless, masterful and near flawless run down the Streif, Cyprien Sarrazin conquered the Hahnenkamm Downhill, winning by a staggering nine-tenths of a second.
It was the second victory in as many days in Kitzbühel for the 29-year-old Frenchman from the Hautes-Alpes.
“It’s incredible, it’s (expletive) crazy – I love this sport and I love this feeling,” Sarrazin said, about his fourth career World Cup victory, but certainly his greatest.
Sarrazin got twisted flying off the critical Mausefalle jump putting himself behind the eight ball with an early mistake, but he was like a magician from there onward. Taking risk and approaching the Hausberg Jump, the Frenchman increased his lead to more than a second ahead of current leader Marco Odermatt. He clocked a top speed of 141.2 Kph. His winning time was 1:52.96.
“The run was incredible – I enjoyed it from top to bottom,” Sarrazin said. “I felt the speed. I crossed the finish line and looked around and saw the explosion of joy. It was like in Bormio, I felt like I did something crazy.”
Sarrazin celebrated in wild fashion spontaneously hopping onto the finish area barrier immediately after his run and urging the enormous crowd to cheer even louder.
“There is nothing like it here and I will enjoy every moment,” he added.
With Sarrazin’s consecutive victories on the Streif Friday and Saturday, it was shades of his countryman Luc Alphand, who won double sprint downhills in Kitzbühel in 1995.
Second podium for Odermatt in Kitzbühel
Marco Odermatt was the only other racer within a second of Sarrazin’s winning time, finishing second, 0.91 seconds off the Frenchman’s blistering pace.
“Cyprien was unbeatable today – even with a perfect run from myself, it wouldn’t be enough,” said Odermatt, who attained his second podium in two days.
“Everything was set for a great show today, perfect slope, perfect weather and I really wanted it today, but I already made mistakes at the top – the speed was maybe not the best, but it was there,” said Odermatt, the overall World Cup leader. “When you come to the finish leading by one and a half seconds here, you can celebrate, but it wasn’t enough, by far.”
Vive La France
For Sarrazin, it was his fifth podium in five races at Wengen and Kitzbuhel in 2024.
The former giant slalom specialist, who struggled in the discipline, and only recently refocused on speed events over the past few seasons, surged to within six points of Odermatt in the World Cup downhill standings (516-510).
Sarrazin’s countryman Maxence Muzaton contended for a podium from bib No 25, but settled for a respectable fifth (+1.72) on a sensational day for the French team, in which four racers finished among top ten.
Paris not thrilled despite podium finish
Italian three-time champion Dominik Paris displayed his top form as of late nabbing his 31st career World Cup downhill podium, posting the third fastest run from bib No. 11. He was still a substantial 1.44 seconds off Sarrazin’s pace.
“I’m not so happy with my run – I started well, I had a good feeling but I took too wide of a line off the Mausefalle jump coming close to the nets,” Paris said. “The jump and some other parts were not so good, but I was pushing hard and did my best.”
About Sarrazin, he said: “He’s at the moment one of the best downhillers because he has the courage to push really hard and he brings the speed everywhere.”
Austrian Pride in Kitz
The Austrian home favorites improved upon Friday’s lackluster showing in Kitzbuhel with Stefan Babinsky punching into fourth (+1.69), and 2023 winner Vincent Kriechmayr in sixth (+1.73).
“As an Austrian downhiller, it’s crazy here with so many people cheering you on and it’s just a very good day,” Babinsky said of the raucous Kitzbuhel atmosphere.
The classic race contested on the revered 3.3-kilometer piste, whose slick surface more resembled a hockey rink, on a sun-drenched, bluebird cold day in the Austrian Tyrol. Temperatures at the finish hovered around minus four Celsius.
Notable attendees at the 84th edition Hahnenkamm downhill included Arnold Schwarzenneger, U.S. politician John Kerry, four-time champion Didier Cuche, 1980 winner Ken Read and three-time super-G victor Aksel Lund Svindal.
German Thomas Dressen, the 2018 Hahnenkamm champion, skied his farewell World Cup race, retiring from the sport having been plagued by injuries throughout his career. He was honored by his fellow racers, sprayed with champagne after his run.
Sarrazin, the new ‘King of Kitzbuhel, who will now be honored with his name engraved on a Kitzbuhel gondola, touched upon the celebrations to follow.
“It will be a great night tonight – tonight will be really wild,” said the new French Hahnenkamm champion.
The 84th edition Hahnenkamm race weekend concludes with the traditional Sunday slalom on the Ganslern piste.
