Marco Odermatt Wins Downhill Race, Nears World Cup Title

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany – Marco Odermatt solidified his position as a dominant force in men’s downhill skiing, securing a victory in Saturday’s World Cup race in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. The win, coming in the first men’s race since the Milan Cortina Olympics, significantly boosts his chances of retaining his World Cup downhill title.

Odermatt topped a Swiss sweep of the podium, finishing just 0.04 seconds ahead of Alexis Monney, with Stefan Rogentin completing the Swiss trio in third place, 0.98 seconds behind. Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr and Italy’s Giovanni Franzoni shared fourth place.

The result was particularly satisfying for Odermatt, who felt a sense of redemption after finishing fourth in the downhill at the recent Olympics, where he had been considered a gold medal favorite. “It was certainly a bit of a revenge today, too,” Odermatt said.

This victory marks a continuation of Odermatt’s impressive form. He has already secured back-to-back wins earlier in the season and a victory at the classic Wengen event. He has won the World Cup downhill title for the past two seasons and is a strong contender to win his fifth straight overall Crystal Globe this year.

However, the race wasn’t without its challenges for the Swiss team. Franjo van Allmen, Odermatt’s closest challenger in the season standings and the Olympic gold medalist in the downhill, struggled with his run, making costly mistakes halfway down the Kandahar course. He finished in sixth place, 1.47 seconds off the pace.

Despite van Allmen’s difficulties, Odermatt’s win extends his lead over his teammate to 175 points in the season standings. With only two races remaining, this margin provides a substantial cushion as he pursues another downhill title. A race win is worth 100 points, meaning van Allmen would need a win and Odermatt to falter in the remaining races to realistically challenge for the title.

The duel between Odermatt and van Allmen has been a defining narrative of the downhill season. Van Allmen had previously struck back against Odermatt’s early season dominance with two wins of his own, including a victory at Crans-Montana a month before the Olympics, where Odermatt failed to reach the podium. Saturday’s race, however, saw Odermatt regain the upper hand.

Van Allmen attributed his performance to technical issues during his run. “I was a little bit too direct, also not central with my body, sat down in the back, and was pretty tired. Too direct and not smooth enough,” he explained.

Odermatt’s success extends beyond the downhill discipline. As a versatile alpine skier, he competes in giant slalom and super-G as well. His consistent performance across these disciplines underscores his status as one of the premier skiers in the world. According to Wikipedia, Odermatt has a total of 54 World Cup wins (29 in giant slalom, 17 in super-G, and 8 in downhill) as of February 28, 2026.

The Swiss skier has also demonstrated success on the world stage, having won a gold medal in the giant slalom at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. He is also competing at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, where he will compete in the giant slalom, team combined, and super-G events.

Odermatt’s consistent performance and ability to perform under pressure have established him as a leading figure in alpine skiing. His victory in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is not only a significant step towards retaining his downhill title but also a testament to his dedication and skill. The remaining two races of the season will be closely watched as Odermatt aims to cement his legacy as one of the sport’s greats.