As part of the 58th edition of the Saslong Classic, Val Gardena/Gröden once again became the venue for a high-class World Cup spectacle. With a sprint downhill, a super-G, and a classic downhill, there was one more race than usual on the program at the foot of the Sassolungo/Langkofel – a challenge that was expectedly managed by the organizers.

Despite challenging conditions due to warm temperatures, the organizing committee led by President Rainer Senoner once again delivered an outstanding performance, presenting a perfectly prepared slope throughout race week. Off the course, too, nothing was left to chance, ensuring that athletes, teams, and spectators alike experienced exceptionally well-organized race days. Viewers at home were also treated to top-class racing, gaining a true measure of the field on one of the most traditional courses in the Alpine Ski World Cup—just weeks ahead of the Winter Olympics.

Odermatt dominates downhill training

The sporting start to the race week came on Tuesday with the first downhill training run. Exceptional talent Marco Odermatt immediately confirmed his role as favorite, setting the fastest time ahead of Austria's Daniel Hemetsberger and local hero Dominik Paris.

Tuesday's training was to remain the only test run for the two downhill races: as snow and rain showers set in during the night on Wednesday, the second downhill training session scheduled for Wednesday had to be canceled. The organizing committee decided to cancel the training run in order to protect the course in view of the upcoming intense racing program – as it turned out, the organizers made the right decision.

Anniversary victory for Odermatt in the sprint downhill

In the first of the three races, Odermatt lived up to his role as favorite and led a Swiss double victory ahead of his teammate Franjo von Allmen. The overall World Cup leader kept his cool in the shortened downhill, which had to be postponed and interrupted several times due to fog, and claimed his 50th World Cup victory. Dominik Paris completed the podium in third place. For the Ultimo/Ulten native, it was his fourth podium finish at his home race.

In front of their home crowd, not only Paris but the entire Italian speed team put in a convincing performance. With Florian Schieder (6th) from Kastelruth, Mattia Casse (7th), Giovanni Franzoni (8th), Christof Innerhofer from Gais (11th – one day after his 41st birthday) and Benjamin Jacques Alliod (14th), five other “Azzurri” finished in the top 15.

Sensational Zabystran outshines the competition in the super-G

The favorite's victory in the sprint downhill was followed by a huge surprise in Friday's super-G: Czech Jan Zabystran, starting with bib number 29, made the most of the improving conditions on the Saslong and sensationally skied to his first World Cup victory. With his first place, the 27-year-old also made Czech sporting history: Since the Alpine Ski World Cup was introduced in 1967, no athlete from Czechia had ever won a World Cup race. Second place went to sprint downhill winner Marco Odermatt, who missed out on a possible best time with a decisive mistake in the final section. In addition to sensational winner Zabystran, another surprise man made headlines: Italian Giovanni Franzoni. The young “Azzurro” finished third, securing his first World Cup podium finish of his career. South Tyrolean veteran Christof Innerhofer also put in a convincing performance, finishing in a strong sixth place 24 hours after coming eleventh in the sprint downhill.

Swiss double victory in the classic downhill

In Saturday's classic downhill race, 48 hours after the sprint downhill, there was another Swiss double victory – this time, however, with Franjo von Allmen as the winner. The downhill world champion did not remain flawless on his way to the best time, but he compensated for his mistakes with consistently high speed from start to finish, keeping his competitors at bay. Teammate Odermatt finished second, climbing onto the podium for the third time in the third Val Gardena/Gröden race of 2024.
In addition to the two Swiss high-flyers, Florian Schieder, an athlete from South Tyrol, also had every reason to celebrate. The Castelrotto/Kastelruth native achieved the third-fastest time, securing his first top-three finish in front of his home crowd. As in the sprint downhill, the Italian speed team also impressed with a strong team performance in the classic downhill. Veteran Dominik Paris from Ulten finished sixth despite a few mistakes, Mattia Casse came eighth, and Giovanni Franzoni crossed the finish line in twelfth place.

Odermatt wins the Val Gardena/Gröden Südtirol Ski Trophy

With first place in the sprint downhill, second place in the super-G, and second place in the classic downhill, Odermatt became the most successful athlete of the 58th Saslong Classic. This secured the Swiss skier the Val Gardena Südtirol Ski Trophy for the second time after 2024. As the winner of this special trophy, Odermatt can look forward to a faithful 3D wooden bust, extra prize money of €5,000, a short vacation in Val Gardena/Gröden, and climbing the Sassolungo/Langkofel accompanied by an expert local mountain guide.