It surely ranked among the best and most joyous five minutes in Alpine skiing history for the Swiss men’s team and fans at the race they prize above all. Marco Odermatt, the 27-year-old superstar of men’s skiing, raced down the longest and quirkiest World Cup downhill course to edge teammate Franjo von Allmen for victory in the classic Lauberhorn race. As Odermatt waited at the start gate, the 23-year-old Von Allmen delighted a noisy crowd of 40,000 with the latest standout display of his breakout season to set the fastest time, one day after getting his first World Cup win in a super-G.
Ski star Odermatt beats fast-emerging Von Allmen in Switzerland’s classic World Cup downhill
