Marco Odermatt / Garmisch-Partenkirchen / GEPA pictures
The Olympic break is over. The 2026 downhill title race is nearly over, too.
On Kandahar 1 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Marco Odermatt delivered a statement victory — his fourth World Cup downhill win of the season — and moved within touching distance of a third consecutive downhill globe. Behind him, Switzerland swept the podium. At the very top, Stöckli swept the first two positions.
The balance of power in men’s downhill is no longer subtle.
Top 5 — Garmisch-Partenkirchen Downhill (Kandahar 1)
1st 🇨🇭 Marco Odermatt (SUI), Bib 10, 1997 — 1:47.57 — Stöckli
2nd 🇨🇭 Alexis Monney (SUI), Bib 12, 2000 — +0.04 — Stöckli
3rd 🇨🇭 Stefan Rogentin (SUI), Bib 3, 1994 — +0.98
4th 🇦🇹 Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT), Bib 14, 1991 — +1.20 — Head
4th 🇮🇹 Giovanni Franzoni (ITA), Bib 13, 2001 — +1.20
Three Starters, Three Leaders
Bryce Bennett of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team opened the race from bib 1, officially restarting the World Cup season after the Olympic break. His 1:50.71 set the first standard on a course that demands strength, glide discipline and the ability to stay balanced at the limit.
His lead lasted just a few minutes.
Justin Murisier answered immediately, skiing 1.57 seconds faster than Bennett. Stefan Rogentin followed and went another 0.59 quicker. Through three racers, the lead changed every run. Kandahar 1 was not waiting for anyone.
Austria’s Daniel Hemetsberger could not alter the direction of his team’s difficult downhill campaign. Canada’s James Crawford again struggled to translate past success into present speed. The race was tightening — and it was becoming Swiss.
Where It Was Decided
Rogentin was explosive early. He was fastest through the opening sectors and forced the favorites to chase.
Monney owned the middle of the course. He built real advantage through the terrain transitions, skiing with poise and efficiency.
Odermatt closed.
The final two sectors — long, punishing, strength-testing terrain — belonged entirely to him. He was fastest where fatigue sets in and mistakes compound. He did not take control at the top. He seized it at the bottom.
That is how champions often win downhill races.
Odermatt did not hide how much this one meant.
“Every victory is important,” he said. “But I haven’t won that many downhills yet, especially not on different slopes. To add this one on a track like Garmisch — one of the big classic races — I’m very, very happy with this victory.”
Garmisch carries weight in the sport. It is one of downhill’s traditional proving grounds, and that history matters.
“It means a lot,” Odermatt said. “Especially in Garmisch we haven’t had the chance to race here that much. We don’t know what will happen the next couple of years with the temperature and everything. Today we had amazing conditions, a perfect atmosphere. It was really, really nice to ski here — and that makes it even better to win.”
He entered the day with seven World Cup downhill victories among 26 podiums. He leaves with number eight — and his fourth of the season. The discipline globe is no longer a projection. It is nearly secured.
Swiss Depth, Swiss Dominance
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This was not a one-man performance.
Alexis Monney entered with three career World Cup downhill podiums and one victory. He left with another, missing the win by four hundredths. His mid-course attack nearly rewrote the result.
Stefan Rogentin came in with two downhill podiums on his résumé. He added a third by setting the early benchmark and forcing the field to chase.
A Swiss 1–2–3 sweep on Kandahar 1 — a track that punishes hesitation and rewards strength — underscores more than individual brilliance. It reflects depth. It reflects control. Switzerland does not rely on one athlete. It arrives with layers.
For Odermatt, sharing the podium mattered.
“From this side, a perfect race — it couldn’t be any better,” he said. “It’s a big step to the downhill globe. And to share it again with two of my friends on the podium… we’ve had many triple victories the last couple of years. To be there on top together with friends is the best feeling.”
The Swiss are not just winning races. They are tightening their grip on the discipline.
Monney: Turning Frustration Into Speed
Alexis Monney nearly stole the race.
Matching Odermatt through the steep upper section, the 26-year-old carried speed into the middle sectors and looked ready to overturn the standings narrative. A slight loss of glide on the lower flats proved decisive, leaving him just 0.04 seconds short.
“I wasn’t really happy with my Olympic downhill,” Monney said. “I was disappointed. But I managed to turn that bad energy into good energy.”
Kandahar suited him.
“This slope is really technical, and I like that,” he said.
As for the razor-thin margin?
“On the bottom he was so fast,” Monney said. “But that’s life.”
The run marked a clear return to form.
Rogentin Defies His Own Doubt
Stefan Rogentin attacked from bib 3 and never backed off.
In his previous five World Cup downhills, he had finished outside the top 24 four times. Yet on Saturday, he set the early benchmark and forced the favorites to respond.
“The feeling wasn’t that good,” Rogentin said. “Especially on the first part. I didn’t feel like I had enough grip. I was a little bit too direct.”
Despite that uncertainty, the clock told a different story.
“But I was pretty fast in the upper part,” he added. “The rest was solid.”
Kandahar demands full-body tension and total focus.
“When you come here, you need tension in your body and you have to be fully focused,” Rogentin said.
The result marked the third World Cup downhill podium of his career — and completed a Swiss sweep that reinforced where the balance of power now sits.
Updated World Cup Downhill Standings
(After 7 of 9 races)
- 🇨🇭 Marco Odermatt (SUI, 1997, Stöckli) — 610 pts
- 🇨🇭 Franjo von Allmen (SUI, 2001, Head) — −175
- 🇮🇹 Dominik Paris (ITA, 1989, Nordica) — −285
- 🇮🇹 Giovanni Franzoni (ITA, 2001) — −336
- 🇮🇹 Florian Schieder (ITA, 1995, Atomic) — −359
Odermatt’s 175-point cushion with two downhills remaining places him firmly in control of the globe race. Barring a dramatic swing, the discipline title is his to lose.
Austria and Italy: Close, But Not Enough
Austria’s best chance came from Vincent Kriechmayr, who finished 4th (+1.20). Despite nine career downhill victories, Austria’s search for a victory in the discipline continues.
Italy placed two inside the top 10. Giovanni Franzoni, the Olympic silver medalist and this season’s Kitzbühel winner, tied for 4th. Dominik Paris, owner of 19 World Cup downhill victories and 34 podiums, finished 9th after showing early speed but losing ground late.
Olympic champion Franjo von Allmen crossed 6th (+1.47), competitive but not decisive.
Stifel U.S. Ski Team
Cochran-Siegle Leads the Americans
Ryan Cochran-Siegle led the Americans, finishing 7th (+1.50). The Olympic Super-G silver medalist remains a consistent presence near the front.
Cochran-Siegle said the result was a step forward, even if the run was not perfect.
“Overall I’m happy with it,” he said. “The snow felt more spring-like today, and I was a little off in the first technical section. But I got more committed as the run went on and skied better by the bottom.”
He added that the performance helps rebuild rhythm in the discipline.
“It’s about putting it together from top to bottom, but today was a good step toward building consistency again in downhill.”
Cochran-Siegle also pointed to his teammate’s performance.
“Honestly, the day really belongs to Erik,” he said. “To attack from the back and move up to 11th in those conditions was impressive.”
Arvidsson Breaks Through, Maple Keeps the Points Streak Alive
The breakout performance came from Erik Arvidsson (bib 44), who delivered 11th (+1.78). It marks his third career World Cup top-15 result.
Independent American Wiley Maple of Aspen, Colorado, once again scored points, finishing 25th (+2.79). Competing independently in downhill — the most equipment-dependent discipline — remains one of the toughest paths in alpine racing, yet Maple continues to find speed.
Maple has now scored in three straight World Cup downhills, a rare stretch of consistency for an independent racer.
“Certainly heartening to be on a roll,” Maple said. “Not sure if I’ve ever had three in a row in the same event.”
He believed there was even more available on Kandahar 1.
“Felt good on my skis the last two days — knew there was more in the tank,” he said. “Blew the right footer onto the flats which was frustrating. But very nice to snag a couple points.”
Maple credited ski preparation for the momentum.
“I think Will Gregorak and I have dialed in the ski prep,” he said. “Just need a real heater to keep the dream alive.”
USA Results
- 7th, Bib 9 🇺🇸 Ryan Cochran-Siegle (USA), 1992 — +1.50 — Head
- 11th, Bib 44 🇺🇸 Erik Arvidsson (USA), 1996 — +1.78 — Head
- 25th, Bib 39 🇺🇸 Wiley Maple (USA), 1990 — +2.79 — Atomic
- 33rd, Bib 1 🇺🇸 Bryce Bennett (USA), 1992 — +3.14
- 40th, Bib 29 🇺🇸 Kyle Negomir (USA), 1998 — +3.86 — Atomic
- 42nd, Bib 43 🇺🇸 Jared Goldberg (USA), 1991 — +4.47
- 48th, Bib 48 🇺🇸 Sam Morse (USA), 1996 — +12.59
Alpine Canada and GB Snowsport
Cameron Alexander produced Canada’s top result in 14th (+2.02) as he continues his return from knee injury.
Canada Results
- 14th, Bib 16 🇨🇦 Cameron Alexander (CAN), 1997 — +2.02
- 28th, Bib 4 🇨🇦 James Crawford (CAN), 1997 — +2.92
- 34th, Bib 34 🇨🇦 Brodie Seger (CAN), 1995 — +3.16 — Atomic
- 38th, Bib 40 🇨🇦 Jeffrey Read (CAN), 1997 — +3.64 — Atomic
Great Britain Results
- 47th, Bib 52 🇬🇧 Roy-Alexander Steudle (GBR), 1993 — +7.15 — Atomic
For GB Snowsport, Roy-Alexander Steudle was the lone entry and finished 47th (+7.15).
Top 30 Finishers — Bib 31 or Higher
(Place, Bib, Flag, Name, Country, YOB verified; deficit to Odermatt; equipment only if partner brand.)
- 11th, Bib 44 🇺🇸 Erik Arvidsson (USA), 1996 — +1.78 — Head
- 12th, Bib 42 🇸🇮 Martin Čater (SLO), 1992 — +1.93
- 17th, Bib 37 🇸🇪 Felix Monsén (SWE), 1994 — +2.22 — Atomic
- 25th, Bib 39 🇺🇸 Wiley Maple (USA), 1990 — +2.79 — Atomic
- 26th, Bib 50 🇫🇷 Sam Alphand (FRA), 1997 — +2.91
- 29th, Bib 31 🇦🇹 Marco Schwarz (AUT), 1995 — +2.96 — Atomic
Looking Ahead to Super-G
The celebration will be short.
The World Cup schedule moves quickly, and another opportunity comes immediately in Super-G.
“First, we will enjoy today,” Odermatt said. “Then we look forward to tomorrow’s race. We know how to ski this hill now. Even if the conditions change a little, we need to ski clean, have the skis under the body and try to attack.”
On Kandahar 1, that approach brought victory.
And it brought Marco Odermatt one step closer to another downhill globe.
Top 30 results
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Analysis of the top three and North Americans among the top 30
About the Author: Peter Lange
