Von Allmen pushes limits to win classic Val Gardena Downhill

Franjo von Allmen (SUI/Head) has been taking an all-or-nothing approach to speed skiing this season.

Sometimes it ends in disaster – he crashed spectacularly yesterday at Val Gardena in the Super G – but when it works, it really works. 

Von Allmen scored victory in the classic, full-length Downhill on Saturday with a wild ski, pipping his teammate Marco Odermatt (SUI/Stöckl) into second place. It was his fourth Audi FIS World Cup victory.

It was another great day for the Swiss, who had finished one-two in the other Downhill here on Thursday.

Florian Schieder (ITA/ Atomic) also capped an successful weekend for Italy, securing his third career podium with a solid run to finish third.

“Sometimes it’s me, sometimes it’s him”
Odermatt had set the early pace, producing an aggressive but controlled run in bib six, despite a buckle coming undone on his boot. 

The Swiss great, who had won the opening two Downhills of the season, kept his lines tight, only going slightly wide mid-course, but recovering brilliantly.

It looked like another victorious turn – but Von Allmen is one skier who can sometimes out-Odermatt the man himself, when it comes to pushing the limits but somehow staying within them – and recovering with extraordinary strength when he doesn’t.

Von Allmen was smooth and direct, finding speed everywhere. He landed on his heels after a huge jump but just stayed upright, and survived the technical Ciaslat section.

It was a ragged edged glory, +0.30 seconds faster than his compatriot. The many fans in attendance certainly appreciated it.

“They are a pretty cool crowd, there was really some energy in the finish area,” said Von Allmen. “its really cool, especially when they make a lot of noise for the other teammates, not just for me.”

“It’s really cool, I didn’t expect it at all,” he said of the victory. “It’s really cool to share the podium with Marco, and to change sometimes – sometimes it’s me, sometimes it’s him.”

Odermatt was effusive as ever about his 24-year-old teammate. “The last two Downhills I could win, and he was second, I think it was fair that he could win today and I could be second,” he said.

“At the moment he is, with me, probably the fastest Downhiller in the world, and we push each other. We know if someone has the perfect run, it is very hard to beat, and for sure that pushes the whole sport.”

“the light was better than yesterday, and we know exactly the line,” he said. “We were much slower in the Ciaslat than in the Super G yesterday and that made it easier.

"I’m very happy with my performance again. The end part of the Ciaslat was not perfect, but everything else I am very happy with.”

Odermatt maintains his lead in the Downhill standings, but there is no rest: his programme continues tomorrow, with a GS. “I will go straight to Alta Badia after the prizegiving, and try to recover to focus on another discipline.”

“We can go to the Olympics and Italian fans can hope”
Florian Schieder (ITA/ Atomic), meanwhile, fired up the home crowd with a direct, buccaneering outing. 

He scored his third career podium, having twice been second in a Kitzbuehel Downhill.

“It was another solid run today, it was a little bit faster than Thursday, but the slope was good, and I felt at the Ciaslat the lines were good. I didn’t know about the speed. I didn’t expect it, but I’m really happy now."

With Dominik Paris (ITA/ Nordica), Mattia Casse (ITA/ Rossignol) and Giovanni Franzoni (ITA/ Rossignol) all finishing well, it has been a good weekend for Italian speed skiing.

“It’s another great result for the team, we can go to the Olympics I think, and the Italian fans can hope,” added Schieder.

Elsewhere, Nils Alphand (FRA/ Head) impressed by finishing fourth, narrowly missing out on his debut career podium.

The men’s speed season goes one more time before the New Year, with a Super G in Livigno on Saturday 27 December.