The formidable Swiss ski team continued its dominance on Saturday, December 28, 2024, with Alexis Monney, a 24-year-old rising star, claiming his first World Cup victory and, in fact, his first-ever podium on the treacherous Stelvio piste in Bormio. In an extraordinary display of precision and poise, Monney edged out compatriot Franjo Von Allmen by 0.24 seconds, with Canada’s Cameron Alexander rounding out the podium in third.
It was a banner day for Switzerland, as their skiers occupied three of the top five spots, further cementing their stranglehold on the Downhill standings. Reigning overall champion Marco Odermatt, widely regarded as the greatest male skier of his generation, finished fifth after a near-catastrophic mid-course recovery that drew gasps from the crowd.
“This is a crazy day,” Monney said after the race. “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.” He credited Odermatt as an inspirational teammate, saying, “He is a great guy, amazing, always pushing us to be better.”
The Stelvio piste, renowned for its unforgiving terrain and relentless bumps, once again proved a stern test. Von Allmen looked poised to secure his first World Cup win after an aggressive early run; however, Monney, in bib 19, delivered a flawless performance and snatched the lead from his teammate by 0.24 seconds. 23-year-old von Allmen has been having a strong World Cup season this year, claiming his second career World Cup podium earlier this year when he placed second in Val Gardena/Gröden, Italy. “This is only my second World Cup season,” Von Allmen said. “I need to stay grounded and focused on my goals for every race.”
It was a tougher outing for other top names. Italy’s Dominik Paris, a six-time winner on the Stelvio, struggled with errors to finish well off the pace. Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr battled the unforgiving bumps, and American Ryan Cochran-Siegle suffered a frightening crash but thankfully walked away uninjured. It would be fair to say that many skiers were still shaken from Cyprien Sarrazin’s crash during training yesterday, Friday 27, during which the French athlete suffered a subdural hematoma. Sarrazin is currently in ICU but is said to be stable following an emergency operation in Italy.
For the United States, the day was marked by disappointment. With Cochran-Siegle recording a DNF, Sam Morse finished as the top U.S. skier in 34th, tied with Canada’s Jeffrey Read—both just outside the top 30 and thus ineligible for FIS points. Bryce Bennett, Jared Goldberg, and Kyle Negomir followed in 37th, 38th, and 39th place, respectively, underlining a tough outing for the Americans.
Cameron Alexander, meanwhile, delivered a standout performance for Canada. His third-place finish marked his second podium on the Stelvio in as many years, a testament to his aggressive approach on the demanding course. “I don’t think there’s much of a secret,” Alexander said. “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.”
The races at Bormio continue tomorrow with a Super-G race before the speed men have a well-deserved break. In the New Year, the men’s speed circuit moves to Wengen, Switzerland, from January 17-19, 2025.
