Von Allmen edges Odermatt in latest World Cup downhill duel for Swiss stars

VAL GARDENA, Italy (AP) — Franjo Von Allmen edged his friend Marco Odermatt for a World Cup downhill victory Saturday in the latest 1-2 finish between the Swiss rivals, whose duels shape as the peak of men’s skiing in the Milan Cortina Olympics season.

Von Allmen finished 0.30 seconds ahead of Odermatt as both stars were aggressive and daring on the bumpy and tiring Saslong course.

It was the sixth time they combined to finish 1-2 in the 10 World Cup downhills since the Val Gardena race one year ago, including Thursday when Odermatt won a shortened race.

“It’s really cool that I can share the podium again with Marco. Sometimes me, sometimes him” that wins, Von Allmen said.

No other racer came close to them Saturday when Odermatt had the fastest speed close to 127 kph (79 mph). Only third-place Florian Schieder of Italy was also within a second of Von Allmen, 0.98 back on the 3.45-kilometer (2.14-mile) course.

Toronto’s James Crawford was the top Canadian in 27th place.

The 24-year-old Von Allmen has three career wins in World Cup downhills, and Odermatt was runner-up each time.

“It was fair that he can win today and I’m also happy with second place,” said Odermatt, who also was second Friday in a super-G.

Each also won a gold medal in downhill at the two-yearly world championships held since the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and their rivalry could be a main event on Feb. 7 at the next Winter Games.

Men’s Alpine skiing at the Olympics is raced at Bormio where another Swiss racer, Alexis Monney, won the World Cup downhill last December with Von Allmen second.

Crashing out

Monney and Ryan Cochran-Siegle of the United States crashed out Saturday on the rolling bumps and jumps, while James Crawford had a spectacular save landing a jump.

Von Allmen and Odermatt both were on the limit at times on a third straight race day, that saw former World Cup overall champion Aleksander Aamodt Kilde skip the start. Kilde is returning after almost two years out recovering from a scary crash at Wengen in January 2024.

Odermatt extended his big lead in the season-long overall World Cup standings chasing a fifth straight title, and Von Allmen closed the gap in the downhill points race.

No repeat shock

There was no repeat of the stunning result Friday in super-G on a hill where more sunshine on the course after 12:30 p.m. gives late starters a fighting chance.

Super-G winner Jan Zabystran — the first Czech man to win a race in 60 seasons of World Cup racing, denying Odermatt victory — had the No. 36 bib Saturday and was almost three seconds back.

Still, unheralded Swiss racer Alessio Miggiano took fifth place with the No. 43 bib, just 0.06 off the podium.

While Von Allmen has no race Sunday, Odermatt goes to nearby Alta Badia for one of the classic men’s giant slaloms. He leads the World Cup standings after winning two of four giant slaloms so far.

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