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Switzerland in Control After Downhill, USA 1 in the Hunt
The Men’s Team Combined at the Saalbach World Championships set the stage for a dramatic slalom finale. After the downhill run, Switzerland 2’s Alexis Monney held a razor-thin 0.02-second lead over Switzerland 1’s Franjo Von Allmen, with Italy 1’s Dominik Paris just 0.46 seconds back in third.
Austria 2’s Daniel Hemetsberger left Fabio Gstrein with 0.95 seconds to make up, while Norway 2’s Adrian Smiseth Sejersted put Timon Haugan in a 1.05-second deficit entering the slalom.
USA 1’s Ryan Cochran-Siegle delivered a solid downhill, positioning Ben Ritchie 1.26 seconds off the lead and within striking distance of the podium. With the slalom skiers yet to race, everything was still to play for.
Final Five Prepare to Attack: Switzerland 4 Leads, USA 1 in the Hunt
With only five teams remaining, Switzerland 4’s Stefan Rogentin and Marc Rochat led the standings with a combined time of 2:42.81, climbing two spots after a strong second run.
Just 0.26 seconds back, USA 1’s Cochran-Siegle and Ritchie sat in second after a brilliant slalom performance. Italy 3’s Mattia Casse and Stefano Gross held third, 0.64 seconds behind the Swiss leaders.
Italy 2 and Austria 2 were next to ski, followed by the three fastest teams from the downhill—Italy 1, Switzerland 1, and Switzerland 2.
With outstanding slalom specialists left to race, the battle for gold was about to begin.
Italy 2 and Austria 2 Fall Just Short
The first of the final five to ski was Italy 2’s Tobias Kastlunger. He put down a solid slalom run but crossed behind USA 1, landing in third, 0.50 seconds back.
The Austrian crowd erupted as Austria 2’s Fabio Gstrein charged down the course, hoping to overtake the leaders. He attacked aggressively but couldn’t gain enough time, falling short and settling into third place.
With three teams left to ski, Switzerland 4 still held the lead.
Vinatzer Out, Switzerland 4 Secures a Medal
Italy 1’s Alex Vinatzer, one of the world’s top slalom skiers, was expected to challenge for gold. But under pressure, he straddled a gate and failed to finish, guaranteeing Switzerland 4 a podium spot.
Only two teams remained—Switzerland 1 and Switzerland 2, setting up a Swiss showdown for gold.
Switzerland Secures Podium Sweep, USA 1 Finishes Just Off the Podium
With only two teams left, Loïc Meillard took to the course for Switzerland 1, following Von Allmen’s strong downhill performance. The Swiss star delivered under pressure, charging through the technical slalom and taking the lead by 0.43 seconds over Switzerland 4.
Now, all eyes were on Switzerland 2’s Tanguy Nef, who carried a slim 0.02-second lead after Monney’s downhill run. A former Dartmouth College All-American, Nef had one final chance to defend Switzerland’s top spot and secure an unprecedented podium sweep.
He attacked aggressively but couldn’t match Meillard’s pace, crossing into second place and securing a Swiss 1-2-3 finish.
Von Allmen and Meillard on Switzerland’s Historic Podium Sweep
Franjo Von Allmen:“It’s crazy—three Swiss teams sitting on the podium. It’s amazing.” adding,“This race shouldn’t happen too often because my nerves are going crazy.”
Loïc Meillard: “Everyone is going crazy, and everyone is happy. It’s something different, for sure.” He laughed when asked if he would join in on a celebratory head shave: “We said yesterday we’d leave that to the young guys. I still have to look nice for the next races.”
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USA 1’s Cochran-Siegle and Ritchie finished just 0.69 seconds off gold and 0.26 from the podium, settling for fourth place in a fiercely competitive race.
Ritchie and Cochran-Siegle on the Team Combined Challenge
Ben Ritchie:“It’s a team event, but I had to just focus on my race. I was trying to go and bring my best for Ryan.”
He described the challenge of attacking the tight and technical slalom course: “It was really difficult—tight, really offset distances. We like to train for this, but today was tough.”
Ryan Cochran-Siegle: “That was an impressive run. Super fun to watch—fortunate he was my teammate today.”
The home-favorite Austrians finished fifth, while Italy 2’s mistakes in slalom dropped them to sixth.
Slalom Heats Up as Early Contenders Attack
The first slalom skiers set a high bar. Sweden’s Kristoffer Jakobsen delivered a blistering run, propelling his team into the lead despite partner Felix Monsen’s struggles in the downhill.
USA 2’s Jett Seymour showed flashes of speed but lacked pace at the bottom, leaving his team 1.09 seconds back in third. Canada’s Erik Read also battled hard, but his team sat 1.67 seconds behind the Swedes.
The Austrian crowd erupted when Marco Schwarz, a former World Cup Slalom Champion, attacked the course. At the final split, he led by 0.50 seconds, but disaster struck—he straddled a gate and failed to finish, dealing Austria an early setback.
Despite Sweden’s early lead, the real battle for gold was still to come.
Seymour and Bennett on the Challenges of Team Combined
Jett Seymour: “It’s warm today, and the snow’s breaking up. So it’s about trying to send it. It’s not easy—you’ve got to risk it every turn.”
He praised Ben Ritchie: “Ben’s a savage. He’s built for this—East Coast, bad weather—and he’s been skiing the best he ever has. He has to ski how he knows how to ski.”
Bryce Bennett: “It’s really fun. I was just saying to the boys at the finish—it’s great to sit down with the downhillers and watch these guys send it. I’m bummed I didn’t hit my part, but we’ll come back stronger.”
Halfway Through: Germany Takes Over, Estonia Stuns
Germany’s Linus Strasser delivered a clean, aggressive slalom, overtaking Sweden and pushing Germany into the lead by 0.63 seconds. France 4 climbed into second at +0.28, dropping Sweden to third at +0.63.
The biggest shock came from Estonia, unexpectedly slotting into fourth at +1.58, ahead of several powerhouse nations. USA 2 and Canada sat sixth and seventh, but with 15 teams still to race, their chances of holding position looked slim.
At the halfway mark, Switzerland 2—the downhill leaders and heavy favorites—had yet to start. The race for gold remained wide open.
Ten to Go: Ritchie Leads, Noël Fails to Finish
With ten skiers remaining, Benjamin Ritchie of USA 1 delivered an outstanding slalom run, launching his team into first place. His aggressive attack on the course bumped Germany into second, now 0.51 seconds behind, while France 4 held third at 0.79 seconds back.
The biggest shock came when Clément Noël, the fastest slalom skier in the world, charged down the course. Expected to shake up the leaderboard, he pushed hard but failed to finish, eliminating France 1 from contention.
Despite strong runs, the top of the leaderboard remained largely unchanged. With ten skiers left, the best downhill teams—including Switzerland 2—were still waiting to race.
A Historic Swiss Sweep
Switzerland dominated the inaugural Men’s Team Combined, executing near-perfect slalom performances to lock out the podium. Meillard’s clutch run for Switzerland 1 sealed gold, while Nef’s strong effort for Switzerland 2 secured silver. Switzerland 4, who led much of the second run, completed the unprecedented sweep with bronze.
Despite falling just short, USA 1’s fourth-place finish was a statement performance, proving they could challenge for medals in future events.
The Men’s Team Combined debut delivered high drama, technical brilliance, and a historic podium sweep, setting the stage for this format’s future at the World Championships.
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About the Author: Peter Lange
