We didn’t see it coming. If the Swiss continue to dominate the winter downhills (3 victories in 3 races, 4 in the top 6 this Saturday), no one would have bet on a victory for Alexis Monney. But the skier from Chatel-Saint-Denis signed the descent of his life to dominate the Stelvio and win the Bormio descent. The one who had never achieved a single top 5 finished ahead of his compatriot Franjo Von Allmen (+ 0”24) and the Canadian Cameron Alexander (+ 0”72) to achieve the first success of his career. Marco Odermatt has to be content with 5th place while Nils Allegre, best Frenchman, secures a new top 10 (10th).
Bib 19, Money hit the jackpot
Video credit: Eurosport
Swiss domination
Would the World Cup simply be a Swiss championship to which other skiers would be invited? In any case, this is what the descents for this 2024-2025 season look like. After Beaver Creek and Val Gardena, the Helvetii dominated again in Bormio, with a new double, after that in Saslong last weekend. And, like a few days ago, Franjo Von Allmen believed in his first career victory but the skier from Boltingen once again had to settle for 2nd place (+ 0”24), confirming that he had passed a course this winter. But the first has changed.
Winner last week, Marco Odermatt failed to repeat his performance, guilty of an error at the entrance to the Carcentina for which he paid fully to finally settle for 5th place (+ 0”80 ). Enough to consolidate his red bib as leader of the discipline, with 62 pts ahead of Von Allmen. A downhill ranking dominated by… 4 Swiss, who were still 6 in the top 12 this Saturday! But it was “Money Time” in Bormio this Saturday.
Airbag triggered? The fear of Odermatt, who found a way to gain access
Video credit: Eurosport
New top 10 for Allègre
Starting with bib 19 on his back, Alexis Monney was not a potential winner, he has never achieved a single top 5 in the World Cup and has only achieved two top 10s so far, in Wengen. in 2023 (10th) and in Kitzbühel last year (8th). But the Swiss had decided to try his luck on the Stelvio, giving it his all, carving out the entry to the Carcentina, like all the Swiss. Very direct, very stable on the support despite a track which shook more than one, the skier from Chatel-Saint-Denis managed the race of his life to surprise everyone and win his first World Cup victory , at 24 years old. . Winner of the last training session, the Canadian Cameron Alexander completes the podium (3rd at 0”72).
On the French side, the task was particularly difficult after the fall of Cyprien Sarrazin in training which left its mark, undoubtedly as much as the virus which is currently hanging around the France team. Despite everything, Nils Allegre confirmed his consistency this season by achieving a new top 10 at the end of a very solid race where the Tricolore will be able to regret his little mistake in the Carcentina, which perhaps cost him the top 5. He takes a good 10th place (+1”26), while Nils Alphand confirms his predispositions to Bormio (9th last year) by taking 14th place (+ 1”76). Matthieu Bailet (19th at 2”18) and Blaise Giezendanner (24th at 2”78) also scored a few points.
