Paris Wins Downhill in Kvitfjell, Odermatt Secures Globe – World Cup Results & Standings

Kvitfjell, Norway – Italian veteran Dominik Paris secured his seventh World Cup victory, and fifth downhill title in Kvitfjell, on Saturday, edging out Olympic champion Franjo von Allmen in the final men’s downhill race of the season. The race came just a week after Marco Odermatt of Switzerland had already clinched the overall downhill title. While Odermatt finished seventh – his worst result in a downhill this season – the day belonged to Paris, demonstrating his enduring class on the Olympiabakken course.

Paris finished a mere 0.19 seconds ahead of von Allmen, with Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr rounding out the podium in third, 0.60 seconds back. The victory marks Paris’ 25th career triumph and solidifies his reputation as a formidable force on the Kvitfjell track. This win elevates Paris to third place in the downhill standings, behind Odermatt and von Allmen.

Despite not topping the podium on Saturday, Odermatt had already secured his third consecutive downhill globe, a testament to his consistent performance throughout the season. He finished the season with 706 points, a comfortable lead over Von Allmen’s 515 and Paris’ 441. Odermatt’s dominance this season included four wins and seven podium finishes in nine races.

“I am not disappointed, for sure not, but also for sure, I wanted to be a little faster today to finish the season on a podium,” Odermatt said, according to the Associated Press. “This year was my most consistent downhill season. I performed in every race, today was by far the worse race.”

Odermatt’s impressive season began with back-to-back victories and continued with two more wins throughout the winter. Prior to Saturday’s race, his only result outside the top three was a fourth-place finish in Crans-Montana. His consistent performance resulted in a 191-point lead over Swiss teammate von Allmen in the downhill standings.

The Swiss skier’s success wasn’t limited to downhill. Odermatt also secured the super-G globe last weekend and is well-positioned to contend for the giant slalom title at the World Cup finals on Tuesday. He currently leads the overall World Cup standings with 1626 points, well ahead of Brazil’s Pinheiro Braathen (958) and American racer McGrath (844).

The race in Kvitfjell wasn’t without its share of notable performances. Swiss racers Monney and Rogentin finished fourth and sixth respectively, demonstrating the strength of the Swiss team in downhill skiing. Slovenia’s Hrobat secured a fifth-place finish, adding to the competitive field.

Looking ahead, the focus shifts to the women’s downhill race in Kvitfjell, scheduled to begin at 12:30 local time (UTC+1). The start list includes Ester Ledecká, adding another layer of excitement to the competition.

For Odermatt, the season represents a continuation of his remarkable career trajectory. His ability to consistently perform at a high level across multiple disciplines has established him as one of the leading skiers in the world. While Saturday’s race didn’t end with a victory, it served as a celebration of a season marked by dominance and consistency.

The final World Cup standings for the downhill discipline saw Odermatt crowned champion with 706 points, followed by Von Allmen (515) and Paris (441). Kriechmayr finished fourth with 382 points, and Franzoni and Schieder tied for fifth with 378 points each. Czech racer Zabystran finished 56th with 5 points.

The overall World Cup standings after 33 of 36 races show Odermatt leading with 1626 points, followed by Pinheiro Braathen (958), McGrath (844), Kristoffersen (771), Meillard (763), and Von Allmen (744). Zabystran is currently 43rd with 168 points.

Next up, all eyes turn to the giant slalom finals on Tuesday, where Odermatt will look to add another globe to his impressive collection. The competition promises to be fierce as skiers battle for the final titles of the season.