Franjo Von Allmen: GEPA pictures
Swiss Domination: Odermatt and Von Allmen Take Over
Fast Course Sets the Stage
The Crans-Montana Nationale course was primed for speed under overcast skies. The snow surface remained excellent, allowing skiers to stay in their aerodynamic tuck for much of the run. Success would come down to aggressive skiing, a strong tuck, and the speed of suits and skis.
Cochran-Siegle Starts Strong but Fades
Bib 3, Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Ryan Cochran-Siegle, was the first North American to take on the course. After strong training runs, expectations were high. He started fast, leading through the early timing sectors, but lost time on the bottom section and finished well behind the leader.
Monney Fires Up the Swiss Crowd
The Swiss have dominated men’s downhill this season, and Alexis Monney (SUI) kept the trend alive. Wearing bib six, the recent World Championship bronze medalist thrilled the home crowd, crossing 0.40 seconds ahead of Italy’s Florian Schieder.
Kriechmayr Leads the Non-Swiss in Fourth
Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr, the World Championship silver medalist, was the first non-Swiss skier on the leaderboard, finishing fourth, 0.81 seconds behind Von Allmen. He built an early lead but couldn’t maintain speed through the bottom section. After initially slotting into second place, he was eventually bumped off the podium by the Swiss trio, settling for the best non-Swiss result of the day.
Odermatt Delivers a Statement Run
Then came Marco Odermatt (SUI), the best skier on the planet. After a disappointing World Championship downhill, the leader of the World Cup downhill standings proved he hadn’t lost a step. He attacked the course with confidence, lighting up green sector times from top to bottom. With a near-flawless run, he took the lead by 0.29 seconds over Monney, sending thousands of Swiss fans into a frenzy.
“Everyone wants to win, and when you’re leading a race, second place isn’t the goal—but I gave it everything I had today. It was a perfect run, the absolute maximum I could ski on this hill, and I’m really happy with my performance. What my teammates have done this season is incredible. They’re ready for every race, in every condition, on any hill. Their speed right now is next level, and they’re really tough to beat.” – Marco Odermatt.
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Von Allmen Lifts Swiss Hopes of a Sweep
Switzerland had one more star waiting in the wings. Newly crowned World Champion Franjo Von Allmen (SUI) charged out of the start with bib 15 and delivered brilliance. Green lights flashed through every timing sector as he stormed into the lead, 0.13 seconds ahead of Odermatt. The crowd, already electric, reached a fever pitch as a sea of Swiss flags waved in the finish, celebrating their nation’s total dominance at the top of the leaderboard.
“Winning my first World Cup downhill in front of the home crowd is unbelievable. The energy at the finish was incredible, and sharing the podium with my teammates makes it even more special. I’ve been pushing hard all season, and to stand on top today proves that work is paying off. This is just the beginning!” – Franjo Von Allmen
Swiss Podium Sweep in Sight
At that moment, a Swiss podium sweep seemed possible. The team had not missed a downhill podium all season, finishing first and second in the first four races and taking second in Kitzbühel. However, they had yet to place three skiers on the podium in a single race. A sweep on home snow would be a historic achievement.
Swiss Sweep Seals a Historic Day
Switzerland owned the podium in Crans-Montana, delivering a dominant 1-2-3 finish in front of a roaring home crowd. Just weeks after sweeping the Team Combined at the World Championships in Saalbach, the Swiss men proved their downhill strength again, this time on home snow.
Franjo Von Allmen, the newly crowned World Champion, claimed his first career World Cup downhill victory, and it looks like the first of many. The 24-year-old showed confidence beyond his years, attacking from start to finish and holding off the best in the world.
Marco Odermatt, the World Cup downhill leader, settled for second after a late-race charge that fell just short. Alexis Monney, the bronze medalist from Saalbach, secured third, completing the perfect Swiss podium.
With this result, Switzerland now holds the top three spots in the season-long World Cup downhill standings, further cementing their dominance in the discipline.
The red wave of Swiss dominance continues, and Von Allmen has officially arrived as the sport’s newest downhill star.
Swiss Sweep: Sector Breakdown
With the podium confirmed, the numbers tell the story of how Von Allmen, Odermatt, and Monney secured their places on top.
- Von Allmen: Fastest start, strongest midsections, slower at the finish but had enough advantage.
- Odermatt: Lost time early but had the fastest final sector, closing the gap.
- Monney: Solid throughout but never the fastest in any section.
Odermatt’s late charge made it close, but Von Allmen’s early dominance sealed his first World Cup downhill victory.
“This is amazing—three Swiss on top today! It’s crazy to be part of this moment,” said Alexis Monney, after securing his third downhill podium of the season. “The crowd, the energy—everything was incredible. I knew I had a good run, but with Franjo skiing so fast and Odi always capable of something special, I wasn’t sure where I’d end up. Now, I’m just really happy.”
“It’s unbelievable. We’ve had some incredible races this season with two Swiss on the podium, but to have three of us up there in a downhill is something special. It’s been a long time since this last happened, and it just shows the level we’re skiing at right now.” – Marco Odermatt.
Two More Chances to Qualify for the Finals
With just two regular-season downhills left in Kvitfjell, Norway, skiers have limited opportunities to secure a spot among the 25 best in the World Cup downhill standings. Only those who qualify will earn a place at the World Cup Finals in Sun Valley, Idaho. Every race from here matters.
North Americans in the Top 30
Crawford Leads the Charge
Canadian James “Jack” Crawford continued his strong World Cup downhill season. The recent Kitzbühel winner didn’t challenge for the podium but delivered another solid performance, finishing sixth, just 0.84 seconds behind Franjo Von Allmen. After a disappointing World Championships, he once again proved to be the top North American in a World Cup downhill.
U.S. Team Presence
The Stifel U.S. Ski Team placed four racers in the top 30:
- Ryan Cochran-Siegle – 13th (+1.58)
- Bryce Bennett – 17th (+1.97)
- Jared Goldberg – 25th (+2.71)
- Sam Morse – 30th (+3.18)
Crawford continues to set the pace for North Americans, while Cochran-Siegle and Bennett delivered solid results as the U.S. men build toward the final two downhills in Kvitfjell.
Final Thoughts: Swiss Dominance and North American Gains
Switzerland celebrated a historic sweep in Crans-Montana, with Franjo Von Allmen securing his first World Cup downhill victory, Marco Odermatt reinforcing his dominance, and Alexis Monney rounding out the podium. The home crowd erupted as the Swiss men extended their season-long podium streak.
For North America, James Crawford led the charge once again, finishing sixth, while the Stifel U.S. Ski Team placed four racers in the top 30—a promising sign as the season nears its final stretch.
The action continues tomorrow in Crans-Montana, as the men shift from downhill to super-G, where Odermatt, Crawford, and other speed specialists will look to make their mark. With just a handful of races left before the World Cup Finals in Sun Valley, every point matters.
Top 30 Finishers
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Run Analysis: Top Three Performers and North Americans in the Top Thirty
About the Author: Peter Lange
