After a disastrous season full of setbacks, Dominik Paris has made an impressive comeback with his home victory in the downhill classic in Val Gardena/Gröden. There was hardly anyone in the finish area who didn't congratulate the powerhouse from Ulten on his success—the voices of the protagonists at a glance.

Dominik Paris (ITA - 1st place): "I'm at a loss for words. I'm overwhelmed by what happened today. I tried to stay clean and smooth—for the first time after 15 years in Val Gardena/Gröden, I managed to do that well. Last season was extremely difficult for me: I didn't have a single race all winter in the downhill, so I gradually lost track of what was wrong and how I should continue. After good preparation in the summer, the big goal was to get the season off to a good start. The fact that I managed such a good race here in front of my home crowd is sensational. We'll certainly be toasting the victory tonight, but it won't last too long. I've reached a certain age now and need longer to recover."

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR - 2nd place): "Today was much better than yesterday—even if my run wasn't flawless. I didn't get the Ciaslat perfectly, but I can live with the rest. Paris had a great run today, so beating him was very difficult. I would have stayed behind him even without my mistake in the Ciaslat."

Bryce Bennett (USA - 3rd place): "Third place feels almost better than the win on Thursday, as I felt under pressure and confirmed by my performance today. Americans feel comfortable on the Saslong because being fast takes a lot of instinct. That suits us very well. Moreover, with Leo Mussi, we have a service man who knows what needs to be done to be fast in Val Gardena/Gröden. I'm very happy for Dominik Paris. He's an incredible athlete who should never be written off—not even on courses that don't suit him. He showed that impressively today."

Mattia Casse (ITA - 7th place): "I made a few minor mistakes in the upper section, but I'm still happy with my performance. The slope and the snow were fantastic today, and the many fans made the whole thing perfect. Last year, I finished in the top three, and today, another Italian, Dominik Paris, is beaming from the podium, which is great. 'Domme' once again proved that he is one of the best downhill skiers in history. On a good day, he can beat anyone. Now I'm looking forward to Bormio. The course is more technically demanding—I'll step up a few gears there.

Florian Schieder (ITA - 17th place): "I got into the race quite well and skied cleanly up to the Ciaslat. I always struggle in the Ciaslat—unfortunately, I also had poor visibility there today and then lost a lot of speed due to a mistake. But I'm leaving Val Gardena/Gröden with a good feeling, and I'm already looking forward to the races in Bormio. The fact that Dominik Paris, a South Tyrolean, has won here is sensational. 'Domme' and I are good friends; we always give each other tips. Our team has a great sense of togetherness; today, we can celebrate the victory together."