Marco Odermatt continues to dominate the World Cup skiing scene and is now eyeing a historic achievement on home turf. The Swiss sensation secured his fourth career downhill win in Wengen, Switzerland, surpassing the record shared by Franz Klammer and Beat Feuz for the most victories on the renowned Lauberhorn course.
Odermatt’s triumph in the shortened race saw him break the tie with Klammer and Feuz, with Klammer clinching three Wengen downhill wins in the 1970s and Feuz claiming his third victory in 2020. Remarkably, Odermatt’s four consecutive wins are a testament to his exceptional form.
In a display of sheer dominance, Odermatt finished a commanding 0.79 seconds ahead of Vincent Kriechmayr from Austria and 0.90 seconds ahead of Italy’s Giovanni Franzoni, who celebrated his first career victory in the super-G event held the previous day. Canadian skier Cam Alexander also put on a strong performance, securing a commendable seventh-place finish.
Adverse weather conditions forced organizers to shorten the course significantly, with the “Kernen S” section proving pivotal in the race. Odermatt navigated this challenging section expertly, attaining higher speeds than his competitors. Fellow Swiss skiers Franjo von Allmen and Alexis Money finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Despite an unfortunate crash, von Allmen, the reigning downhill world champion, showcased his daring approach on the course. Dominik Paris of Italy clocked the highest speed at 151.57 kph, claiming the sixth position in the race.
With the Wengen event marking the start of the classic circuit, the focus now shifts to Kitzbuehel, Austria, before the spotlight turns to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy. The anticipation is high for the upcoming competition, especially with the men’s events set to take place in Bormio.
Following his impressive victory, Odermatt, a gold medalist in giant slalom at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, is poised to excel at the forthcoming Games. His latest triumph also edges him closer to Hermann Maier’s third-place record on the all-time men’s list with 52 World Cup victories. Additionally, Odermatt maintains a substantial lead in the overall standings as he pursues his fifth consecutive World Cup title, a feat that he celebrated exuberantly with the Swiss supporters in attendance.