Marco Odermatt (SUI/Stöckli) took a huge step towards securing his third successive Audi FIS World Cup Downhill Crystal Globe with a near flawless performance in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on Saturday.
With the pressure on after a gold-free Olympic campaign, Odermatt was back to his very best, finding a touch down the demanding Kandahar course that no one could match. The roar in the finish area with arms outstretched showed just what a fourth Downhill win of the season, alongside the accompanying 100 points, meant.
Last season Alexis Monney (SUI/Stöckli) was one of those who pushed Odermatt all the way in the Downhill Globe race, but having struggled to find his best this time around, the 26-year-old’s efforts on Saturday signalled a welcome return to form. Matching Odermatt through the steep top section, the margins were tight with only a slight error on the lower flats dropping Monney back into second, 0.04 seconds behind his teammate.
A third red-suited skier on the podium was perhaps no surprise for a nation that has dominated the speed events of late, but the identity was.
In his previous five World Cup Downhills, Stefan Rogentin (SUI/Fischer) had finished outside the top-24 four times, with 14th in Wengen his best result. But out the gate third, the 31-year-old powered back to his best to claim a third Downhill podium of his career.
All eyes were on Franjo von Allmen (SUI/Head) when the recently crowned three-time Olympic champion pushed out from the gate as the last of the top seeds. But a wild ride, after which the 24-year-old complained he was “too direct”, left von Allmen down in sixth and barely holding on to his dream of a first ever Crystal Globe.
Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT/Head) and Giovanni Franzoni (ITA/Rossignol) tied for fourth but at 1.20 seconds back, neither ever truly threatened the Swiss sweep.