Marco Odermatt has done it again – and this time, it’s a monumental one. The Swiss alpine skiing sensation stormed to victory in a fog-plagued downhill on the iconic Saslong course in Val Gardena, claiming his 50th career FIS Alpine Ski World Cup win at just 28 years old.
In a race marred by thick fog that caused multiple delays and interruptions, Odermatt clocked a winning time of 1:24.48 on the shortened course (starting from the super-G hut to reduce athlete strain amid a packed schedule). Recovering from a minor mid-course blip, the four-time defending overall champion edged out his compatriot Franjo von Allmen by a mere 0.15 seconds for a Swiss 1-2 finish. Italian veteran Dominik Paris thrilled the home crowd with third place, just 0.19 seconds back.
This triumph marks Odermatt’s sixth downhill victory – a discipline where he’s increasingly dominant after winning the season opener in Beaver Creek – and ties him with Italian legend Alberto Tomba for fourth on the men’s all-time World Cup wins list. Ahead of him: Ingemar Stenmark (86), with Mikaela Shiffrin holding the overall record at 105.
“It’s a great achievement, but on Saturday we have the race from the top, so we’ll just have a quick toast,” Odermatt said post-race, keeping his focus sharp with a super-G on Friday and the full-length classic Saslong downhill looming.
The race, a replacement for a weather-canceled Beaver Creek event, wasn’t without drama: delays stretched over an hour, and a serious crash by Fredrik Moeller required airlifting. Yet Odermatt, starting with bib 14, found clarity amid the haze to deliver yet another masterclass.
With five wins already this season, Odermatt extends his massive lead in the overall standings as he chases a fifth consecutive crystal globe. Switzerland’s speed team looks unstoppable heading into the Olympics – watch out, world!
