First World Cup victory for Franjo von Allmen in the Downhill

There's no holding back Franjo von Allmen. Following his brilliant World Championship title in the Downhill in Saalbach, the Swiss athlete races to the top of the podium in the World Cup. On Saturday, in Crans Montana, the 23-year-old wins a World Cup Downhill for the first time. Also on Saturday, Lara Gut-Behrami finishes second in the Giant Slalom in Sestriere to notch up her second podium finish in this discipline this season.

"For Franjo von Allmen it's brilliant he won the World Championship. He delivered a superb performance. That achievement has been made even better by him coming home to win the first Downhill after the World Championship as the World Champion. Long may his success continue!" said HEAD Racing Director Rainer Salzgeber. "Second place for Lara Gut-Behrami is also very pleasing, especially because she dropped out of the race the day before. Getting to stand on the podium is just perfect. Brignone was very dominant in Sestriere, so she did really well to secure second place. Let's see how the rest of the season goes for her. Cornelia Öhlund skied an exceptional run in the Slalom, and I hope that was a positive step that gives her confidence and ambition. Now she has seen how fast she can be, and also that the top skiers are very close in their performance so that young athletes can also compete for the win. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite enough to reach the podium in the Slalom, but as a team it was another awesome result."

Franjo von Allmen: "I'm really enjoying this"

Val Gardena and Bormio in December 2024, Wengen in January 2025; three second places have been the best Downhill results in Franjo von Allmen's list of successes so far. Now the World Champion in this discipline has finally stamped his mark on the World Cup. At his home race in Crans Montana, the Swiss athlete stood on top of the podium for the first time - for the second time when you include his Super-G victory in Wengen in January 2025. "Who cares whether it was difficult or easy, it's a World Cup Downhill and I am really enjoying this. My energy levels are no longer quite as high, so I'm already looking forward to summer. But when you ski like this, you have to enjoy it," said Franjo von Allmen at the finish.

📷 GEPA pictures

Four HEAD Worldcup Rebels in the top seven

The HEAD Worldcup Rebels also put in a strong team performance in the Downhill. With Vincent Kriechmayr from Austria in fourth place, James Crawford from Canada in sixth place and Stefan Eichberger from Austria in seventh place there were no fewer than four HEAD World Cup Rebels in the top seven. Also finishing in the top 30 were Ryan Cochran-Siegle from the USA in 13th place, Justin Murisier from Switzerland who was 18th, Stefan Babinsky from Austria 20th, and Matthieu Bailet from France 28th.

Seventh place for Franjo von Allmen in the Super-G

Franjo von Allmen was also the fastest in the HEAD team on the Super-G run in Crans Montana on Sunday, finishing seventh. Lukas Feurstein, Stefan Eichberger, and Vincent Kriechmayr, all from Austria, finished ninth, twelfth and 17th respectively. Justin Murisier finished in 22nd place, Ryan Cochran-Siegle was 23rd, and Stefan Babinsky 26th.

Second Giant Slalom podium for Lara Gut-Behrami

Lara Gut-Behrami stood on the podium in a Giant Slalom for the second time this season. The 33-year-old Swiss athlete finished second in Sestriere on Saturday, having also finished second in the Giant Slalom in Kronplatz in January. "This year things are not working out as well as they did last year, which is why I'm satisfied if I can still be on the podium. That gives me back my confidence," said Lara Gut-Behrami, who was already second after the first run and retained this position by clocking the fourth-fastest time on run two. Also finishing in the top ten on Saturday were A J Hurt from the USA in seventh place and Camille Rast from Switzlerand who finished tenth. World Cup points were also bagged by Sara Hector from Sweden in 13th place, Stephanie Brunner from Austria 14th, Lena Dürr from Germany with the third fastest time on the second run in 15th place, Wendy Holdener and Vanessa Kasper from Switzerland in 17th and 18th place, Estelle Alphand from Sweden 21st and Kajsa Vickhoff Lie from Norway 22nd. For Vanessa Kasper, who started the race with bib number 38, it was her best World Cup result to date in an individual competition.

Sara Hector best HEAD World Cup Rebel in the first Giant Slalom

In the first Giant Slalom in Sestriere on Friday, Sara Hector was the fastest from the HEAD team in fifth place. The Swedish athlete was in fourth place after the first run. World Cup points were also picked up by Camille Rast in ninth place, A J Hurt twelfth, Stephanie Brunner 17th, Estelle Alphand 18th, Wendy Holdener 20th, and Vanessa Kasper in 28th place.

Cornelia Öhlund clocks fastest run for her best World Cup result

Following a sensational second run and finishing in fifth place overall, Cornelia Öhlund achieved her best result to date in the World Cup at the Slalom event in Sestriere on Sunday. On the second run, the Swedish athlete was 81 hundredths of a second ahead of her HEAD team-mate A J Hurt, which moved her up 18 places. Previously, the 19-year-old's best World Cup result was tenth place. Four more HEAD Worldcup Rebels finished in the top ten with Emma Aicher and Lena Dürr from Germany sixth and seventh, Anna Swenn-Larsson eighth, and Wendy Holdener ninth. A J Hurt finished 13th, Marta Rossetti from Italy 16th, Sara Hector 17th, Aline Danioth from Switzerland 27th and Jessica Hilzinger from Germany was 29th.