Odermatt Leads Intense Battle for Downhill Title & World Cup Finals Qualification

Cyprien Sarrazin, Marco Odermatt, Dominik Paris: GEPA Photos

The excitement in the alpine skiing world is palpable as Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt leads the intense duel for the downhill title. Other competitors fiercely vie for coveted spots in the World Cup Finals. Each race is a battleground for supremacy; the stakes are high as athletes push themselves to the limit in the men’s World Cup downhill.

In the Men’s Nations Cup Downhill standings, Switzerland leads with 1149 points, followed closely by France with 1113. Italy holds third place with 833 points, while Austria surprisingly sits in fourth with 544.

Men’s Nations Cup downhill standings

The Stifel US Ski Team ranks fifth, boosted by independent racer Wiley Maple, contributing to their total of 491 points. Canada trails behind the US in sixth place with 304 points.

Only eleven nations have scored Men’s World Cup downhill points.

The next and final regular season downhill race is in Kvitfjell, Norway, on February 17th. To qualify for the World Cup finals downhill in Saalbach, Austria, on March 24th, racers must accumulate 500 points in all the events or be 25th or better in the season’s discipline ranking. Also, Switzerland’s Livio Hiltbrand, the FIS Junior World Downhill Champion, will receive an invitation.

Current top 25 downhill 2024

Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt and France’s Cyprien Sarrazin are locked in a dramatic battle for the 2024 World Cup downhill title. Odermatt leads with 516 points, while Sarrazin closely follows with 510. Italy’s Dominik Paris, almost mathematically eliminated from winning the individual season’s downhill title, is third.

North Americans

Bryce Bennett leads the North American contingent with 207 points and two podium finishes this season, including a victory and a third in Val Gardena / Gröden. He is ranked sixth.

His teammate Ryan Cochran-Siegle follows in tenth with 172 points.

Alpine Canada Alpin’s Cameron Alexander holds 11th place with 145 points, securing the only other North American men’s podium.

James “Jack” Crawford ranks 12th, with notable top-ten finishes but no podiums.

These four skiers — Bennett, Cochran-Siegle, Alexander, and Crawford — are the only North Americans in the top 25 with guaranteed invites to Saalbach.

Italy’s Christof Innerhofer is poised at 25th place, just ahead of Jared Goldberg from the US Ski Team in 28th.

Goldberg also faces tough competition from Switzerland’s rising star Franjo Von Allmen for a shot at Saalbach. However, he can do well in Kvitfjell and earn a trip to Saalbach.

Outside chance to qualify for finals

Other North American racers, like Sam Morse (USA), Wiley Maple (USA), Jeffrey Read (Canada), Brodie Seger (Canada), and Kyle Negomir (USA), rank lower and would need standout performances to qualify for the finals. There is likely only one more race for these men in their 2024 World Cup downhill season.

Additional North American who have scored 2024 World Cup downhill points

As the competition intensifies and racers gear up for the Kvitfjell, Norway showdown, the 2024 World Cup downhill title race is reaching its climax. The excitement is palpable, with Switzerland leading the men’s downhill Nations Cup and Marco Odermatt holding a narrow lead over France’s Cyprien Sarrazin in the discipline title battle. The upcoming event in Kvitfjell promises thrilling moments as athletes strive to secure their spot in the Saalbach finals. Stay tuned for the adrenaline-packed conclusion of the Men’s World Cup downhill regular season!