There was ambition. But, in the end, it’s difficult to say that there is really disappointment. One of the Swiss favorites, Franjo von Allmen, won the men’s downhill at the Milan-Cortina Olympics ahead of two Italians, Giovanni Franzoni and Dominik Paris. And the French? One man, the most consistent of the season in the Top 10 with an eighth place for Nils Allègre, two others far away – Nils Alphand 22nd and Alban Elezi Cannaferina 27th, and the fourth, Maxence Muzaton with his butt on the snow before the finish.
Twenty years after Antoine Dénériaz’s coronation at the Turin Olympics, none of the Blues had the soul and the outlook of a successor on Saturday on the formidable Stelvio track. The very strong men argued among themselves under the Bormio sun, leaving alpine skiing boss Marco Odermatt at the foot of the podium, and left no chance to the outsiders and the fans of “on a big day, he can make a move”. And no luck, the Blues of speed cruise in these waters.
“The trifecta today are guys who are in good shape. There is a lot of density and a big fight to get everything in front,” summarizes Nils Allègre, the Tricolores’ best chance in the starting gate.
Pierre under ski, fall and arm caught in a door
“There are two sectors where I pick up,” explains the seventh in the World Cup ranking. Especially on the lower part, where I caught a stone under my right ski. It’s bad luck, it happens from time to time in skiing, you have to accept it and that’s how it is. »
In the mixed zone, each member of the French quartet came to detail their personal misfortune. There is Maxence Muzaton, who arrived pumped up by the first podium of his career in Kitzbühel in January, more in the game halfway through the race and made a mistake in the last meters, rinsed by the efforts made on the Stelvio. “It’s not good,” he slips. There have been ups and downs, but there is sure to be disappointment. »
There is Nils Alphand (22nd), who came very close to a detour into the net at the bottom of the course. Finally, there is Alban Elezy Cafferina (27th), the little prodigy invited at the last minute, who appeared in front of the press with his right hand wrapped in an ice pack. A “remedy” to relieve the pain born from the impromptu encounter between his hand and a door on the route.
“It’s okay,” he reassures, showing off the boo-boo of the day. There was a little too much desire and I made a mistake. But anyway, my goal was to ski the slope for the Super G (Wednesday January 11). »
Other opportunities in team combined and Super G
Failing to rejoice this Saturday, the Blues therefore postpone the hoped-for sensation until later. See you Wednesday at the Super G then. Or in the team combined from this Monday, where three French duos, each made up of a speed specialist and a slalomer, will try to achieve the best cumulative time. Bad news: the competition will always be difficult to overthrow.
“We’re going to try to eat them,” warns Nils Allègre. Because we’re all looking for the same thing. » Two days before the descent, the boss of the French men’s team Frédéric Perrin was asked how we would recognize a very successful Olympics for the Blues of speed.
“Two medals,” he replied. Our athletes are ready to fight for this. But we don’t have control over everything. » Starting with the level of others.
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