Marco Odermatt’s dominant season continued to fall just short of perfection as he finished second in the downhill race at Kitzbühel on Saturday, missing out on a coveted victory by a mere seven-hundredths of a second to Italy’s Giovanni Franzoni. The result came after Odermatt secured a Super-G win on the Streif on Friday, marking his 17th World Cup Super-G victory and moving him into second place on the all-time list.
Odermatt, who has already secured three Crystal Globes this season (downhill, super-G, and overall), had identified the Kitzbühel downhill as a key objective. Despite the narrow defeat, the Swiss star reached a milestone, earning his 100th World Cup podium finish and collecting his seventh Kitzbühel chamois. The 180 World Cup points earned on the Streif also significantly bolster his chances of securing another overall Crystal Globe. The win in the Super-G was his seventh of the season and a back-to-back victory in Kitzbühel.
The weekend wasn’t without success for the Stöckli team, as Odermatt added two more trophies to his collection. He described the downhill course as “easier” this year, leading to a more competitive field. Despite a near-flawless run, Franzoni’s performance proved just enough to take the victory.
Odermatt acknowledged a growing sense of fatigue after 45 starts this season, including training runs, and hinted at a possible reassessment of his approach next season, particularly with the World Championships in Crans-Montana on the horizon. While the giant slalom remains his favorite discipline, questions linger about his ability to maintain his current pace. The Swiss skier has dominated the alpine skiing world this season, and the pursuit of a Kitzbühel downhill victory remains a notable goal.
