Swiss von Allmen claims maiden World Cup win in Wengen Super-G

The 23-year-old downhill specialist's risk-taking performance on the spectacular Lauberhorn piste sealed victory in 1min 47.65sec.

"There are so many emotions, I just try to be in the moment," said von Allmen to the acclaim of the 27,500 spectators.

"Especially as a Swiss guy, it's really something special."

Austrian veteran Vincent Kriechmayr, 33, was second best at 0.10sec, having also finished second in Bormio last month.

Von Allmen's compatriot Stefan Rogentin, bruised and sore after a fall in downhill training during the week, completed the podium at 0.58.

Von Allmen had already been on the podium this season, finishing second in the downhills in Italy at Val Gardena and Bormio in December.

His first podium was third in the Super-G a year ago in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

He becomes the seventh first-time winner on the men's World Cup tour this season, including the fourth from Switzerland.

Under bright sunshine and blue skies, von Allmen was nearly flawless, making up time on the technical middle section having trailed at the top of the course.

"I think it was a solid run," said von Allmen, adding it was "not at all" perfect. "For once I did not many mistakes, and had some fast skiing."
Odermatt pays for errors
Overall World Cup and discipline leader Marco Odermatt finished a disappointing seventh, missing the podium for the first time in his four Super-G races in Wengen.

The 27-year-old Swiss had not finished outside the top five in a World Cup Super-G since March 2022.

Joking he was happy "not to be always in the limelight", Odermatt conceded "two or three small errors" cost him as he trailed at 1.04sec.

Odermatt nevertheless retains the lead in the speciality ranking, 19 points ahead of Kriechmayr, with von Allmen sixth.

And he also remains clearly at the head of the overall standings, 192 points ahead of Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen who is not competing in the speed events.

"If he doesn't make mistakes, he can win every race," said Odermatt of von Allmen who is eighth in the overall standings heading into Saturday's downhill in the Swiss resort.

"Easier? I don't think so," von Allmen warned. "I try to put emotions down and focus again for tomorrow."