In a shocking turn of events, 24-year-old Swiss skier Alexis Monney claimed his first ever World Cup victory in Saturday’s downhill race in Bormio, Italy. The relatively unknown Monney capitalized on a rare mistake by his heavily favored compatriot and downhill points leader Marco Odermatt to secure the win on the demanding Stelvio course, which will host the downhill events at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Monney, starting 19th, put down a bold and near-flawless run to finish 0.24 seconds ahead of fellow Swiss skier Franjo van Allmen for an unexpected Swiss one-two. The win marked Monney’s first career podium, with his previous best World Cup results being a 10th place in Wengen in 2023 and an 8th in Kitzbühel last season.
“I don’t know what to say, it is a crazy day,” an ecstatic Monney exclaimed at the finish. “I can’t find the words, but it is amazing and I am happy. It will be one of the best memories of my life. I came to the start and the plan stayed the same as this morning and yesterday. I was really focused and I knew that what I had in my head was good.”
– Alexis Monney
Odermatt Slips But Avoids Disaster
While it was a dream day for Monney, it was a rare off day for Marco Odermatt. The three-time overall World Cup champion and downhill standings leader made an uncharacteristic mistake midway through his run, losing control and sending his skis in opposite directions. However, the Swiss superstar somehow managed to recover and get back on line to salvage a fifth place finish, 0.80 seconds behind the winner.
“I am lucky to be on my feet,” a relieved Odermatt said afterwards. He was quick to praise his younger teammates though: “This is really amazing. They ski so well, they deserve everything that comes to them. I’m really happy to be a part of their success a little bit, although they do it themselves.”
Swiss Depth on Display
The Swiss performance highlighted the nation’s incredible depth in men’s alpine skiing at the moment. In addition to Monney and van Allmen in first and second, the Swiss also placed three other skiers in the top 10. As the dominant Odermatt noted:
“In our team, nobody is the boss. We are all on a similar level, we try to help each other, we try to have fun, they are all very kind, funny guys.”
– Marco Odermatt on the Swiss men’s ski team
The talent and camaraderie of the Swiss speed team was on full display in Bormio, boding well for their chances at the upcoming world championships in Courchevel-Méribel, France and the 2026 Olympics on home snow.
Olympic Preview on the Stelvio
Saturday’s race served as an early preview of the men’s downhill course for the 2026 Winter Olympics, to be held in the Bormio and Cortina d’Ampezzo ski areas about a 5-hour drive apart. The Stelvio piste in Bormio is one of the most challenging on the men’s World Cup circuit, featuring long, high-speed gliding sections, technical turns, and big jumps.
The difficult course seemed to suit the aggressive style of the young Swiss contenders perfectly, as they claimed four of the top five spots. Canadian Cameron Alexander prevented a Swiss podium sweep by grabbing third place, 0.72 seconds behind Monney, nudging out Italian favorite Mattia Casse by a mere 0.07 seconds to the dismay of the local tifosi.
Monney’s Magical Maiden Win
But the day belonged to Alexis Monney, who stunned the ski racing world with his out-of-nowhere victory in one of the calendar’s marquee downhills. The unheralded Swiss skier, who had never finished better than 8th in a World Cup race, mastered the challenging Stelvio course with a bold, attacking style that edged out even his more decorated teammates.
With his surprise win, Monney instantly establishes himself as a new contender in the downhill and a serious medal threat for the 2026 Olympics on the same slope. His victory also reaffirms the Swiss team’s status as the dominant force in men’s speed skiing, even on a rare off day for their biggest star Odermatt.
As the Swiss skiers celebrated their 1-2 finish and incredible team performance, the skiing world was left pondering if they had just witnessed the arrival of a new Swiss downhill ace in Alexis Monney. With his maiden World Cup win now secured in thrilling fashion, the focused, humble 24-year-old appears poised to contend for many more victories in the years ahead, starting with the showcase events later this season. A new Swiss ski star may very well have been born on the epic Stelvio downhill in Bormio.
