Alexis Monney achieved a sensational first World Cup success on Saturday.
The 24-year-old from Friborg won the difficult Bormio downhill, beating Franjo von Allmen by 0.24 seconds for a second consecutive Swiss double in the premier discipline.
If von Allmen’s 2nd place, 2nd in Val Gardena behind Marco Odermatt a week earlier, was possible, who would have dared to bet on such an exploit from Alexis Monney? The skier from Châtel-St-Denis has so far posted an 8th place – on the no less demanding Streif in Kitzbühel last January – as his best result at this level.
Victim in March 2023 of a partial rupture of the internal ligament of the right knee, Monney had certainly taken 3rd place in the first training on the Stelvio after finishing 13th in downhill and 17th in super-G at Beaver Creek. But nothing suggested such a resounding victory.
The 2020 junior downhill world champion dominated the proceedings for his 36th participation in the World Cup. The Bernese Franjo von Allmen (23 years old) was tied for the majority of the course, but he lost 0”18 on the last sector and will be satisfied with a third podium on the Cirque Blanc.
Third, the Canadian Cameron Alexander conceded 0”72 to the winner of the day. Men’s ski boss Marco Odermatt finished 5th at 0”80, just ahead of Valais’ Justin Murisier (6th at 0”81). Marco Kohler (9th) and Stefan Rogentin (11th) completed the superb overall performance of the Swiss downhillers.
/ATS
