In one of the most electrifying finishes on the iconic Streif course, Italy’s Giovanni Franzoni delivered the performance of a lifetime, claiming a razor-thin victory in the FIS Alpine World Cup downhill at Kitzbühel. The 24-year-old from Manerba del Garda clocked 1:52.31 to secure his second career World Cup win—and his first-ever in downhill—edging out Swiss superstar Marco Odermatt by a mere 0.07 seconds in a heart-stopping battle.
Odermatt, the dominant force in alpine skiing and chasing his first Kitzbühel downhill triumph, pushed hard but finished second (+0.07), adding yet another podium to his remarkable tally (his 100th World Cup podium). France’s Maxence Muzaton surprised with a strong bronze (+0.39), rounding out an international podium on one of skiing’s most demanding and prestigious stages.
Franzoni, starting from an early bib, unleashed a flawless run full of aggression and precision on the legendary Hahnenkamm track—known for its brutal jumps, icy turns, and high-speed sections. His emotional celebration at the finish line spoke volumes: this victory catapults the young Italian into the spotlight as the season builds toward the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on home snow.
The result sends shockwaves through the downhill world. Franzoni has been building an outstanding season, and conquering “The Streif”—often called the Holy Grail of alpine skiing—marks him as a serious contender for Olympic glory next month.
Official podium:
🥇 Giovanni Franzoni 🇮🇹 – 1:52.31
🥈 Marco Odermatt 🇨🇭 – +0.07
🥉 Maxence Muzaton 🇫🇷 – +0.39
With the Olympics looming, Franzoni’s breakthrough win has everyone asking: Could Italy’s rising star steal the show on home turf? The countdown to Milano Cortina just got a lot more thrilling.
