To: December 28, 2024, 1:05 p.m.
Double victory for Switzerland during the Downhill World Cup in Bormio. Swiss Alexis Monney creates a surprise on the Stelvio and unexpectedly celebrates his first World Cup victory. He snatches it from his compatriot Franjo von Allmen. Marco Odermatt avoids a serious fall and misses the podium.
For a long time, it was believed that Franjo von Allmen would celebrate his first World Cup victory on the Stelvio in Bormio. But it was not Marco Odermatt, but his compatriot Alexis Monney, who pushed the Boltigen man out of the header.
Money earns Allmen’s first World Cup victory
For Money, it was also the first World Cup victory of his career. In 1:53.43 minutes, he achieved by far his best World Cup result. So far in his career, he has finished in the top ten twice. Franjo von Allmen came second, 24 hundredths of a second behind.
He had already narrowly missed out on victory in the Val Gardena downhill before Christmas. “I wouldn’t have dreamed of this and I wish it to Alexis with all my heart,” said the beaten 23-year-old as a fair loser in the ZDF interview.
Canadian Alexander Cameron came third (+0.72 seconds), author of the best time in training on Friday. It was Cameron’s first podium this winter.
Odermatt prevents falls – airbag deploys
Overall World Cup leader Marco Odermatt got off to a fast start and found himself in the lead from the start. But halfway through the course, the Swiss was eliminated; the vibrations were so strong that his airbag deployed. Odermatt was able to narrowly avoid a fall. However, the mistake cost valuable time which the 27-year-old was unable to make up for.
The reigning overall World Cup winner was more than half a second behind at the finish (+0.56 seconds) and finished fifth. “It’s amazing how much time he managed to spend with the Aribag open”» van Allmen praised.
Odermatt himself found the safety measure good: “With a mistake like this, it’s very good that the airbag opens,” said the Swiss and added: “Of course, if you’re standing there are better than driving with an open airbag, but I’m glad I got there safely.” He is now “satisfied if there are still a few points left”.
Jocher strong – Baumann cannot rely on Val Gardena
The German Romed Baumann did not succeed. The native of Kiefersfelden was disappointing on the Stelvio and failed to consolidate his seventh place in the descent of Val Gardena. In Bormio he could not participate in the race from the start and had big problems. In the end, he reached the finish 3.67 seconds behind and was in 37th place.
His teammate Simon Jocher had done much better before. The SC Garmisch man, who had only collected World Cup points once this season, also surprisingly made it into the top 15 on Saturday. He finished 13th (+1.62 seconds). Young Luis Vogt, Jocher’s club colleague, also ranked 19th (+2.18 seconds) among the top 20 drivers.
Cochran-Siegle also falls
The weekend was nevertheless marked by a shadow due to the serious fall of Cyprien Sarrazin, seriously injured in training on Friday and victim of a cerebral hemorrhage. The infamous Stelvio also showed his teeth during Saturday’s race. Ryan Cochran-Siegle also fell spectacularly during a promising split, but got away with it. The American was able to leave the scene of the accident on skis.
