{"id":891878,"date":"2026-02-12T05:15:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T11:15:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/12\/italian-skier-franzoni-adds-kitzbuhel-downhill-win-to-his-breakout-season-with-home-olympics-looming\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T05:15:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T11:15:19","slug":"italian-skier-franzoni-adds-kitzbuhel-downhill-win-to-his-breakout-season-with-home-olympics-looming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/12\/italian-skier-franzoni-adds-kitzbuhel-downhill-win-to-his-breakout-season-with-home-olympics-looming\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian skier Franzoni adds Kitzb\u00fchel downhill win to his breakout season with home Olympics looming"},"content":{"rendered":"<article id=\"post-602128306\">\n<div>\n<p><span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy: The Associated Press<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span>Posted: <strong><time datetime=\"2026-01-24 06:35:20\">6:35 AM CST Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026<\/time><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tLast Modified: <time datetime=\"2026-01-24 07:15:51\">7:15 AM CST Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026<\/time><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>\n\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/javascript:window.print();\" title=\"Print Italian skier Franzoni adds Kitzb\u00fchel downhill win to his breakout season with Olympics looming\"><i><\/i> Print<\/a>\n\t<\/li>\n<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"mailto:?subject=Italian skier Franzoni adds Kitzb\u00fchel downhill win to his breakout season with Olympics looming - via the Winnipeg Free Press&#038;body=https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/uncategorized\/2026\/01\/24\/italian-skier-franzoni-adds-kitzbuhel-downhill-win-to-his-breakout-season-with-home-olympics-looming\" title=\"Share by Email\" target=\"_blank\"><i><\/i> Email<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n\t\t<a title=\"Bookmark\" href=\"http:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/#\"><span><i><\/i><i><\/i><\/span> Read Later<\/a>\n\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>KITZB\u00dcHEL, Austria (AP) \u2014 Italian skier Giovanni Franzoni put another exclamation point to his breakout World Cup season Saturday by winning on the classic Streif course, two weeks before the downhill race at his home Olympics.<\/p>\n<p>Read this article for free:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>To continue reading, please subscribe:<\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<h4>Monthly Digital Subscription<\/h4>\n<p><strong>$1 per week for 24 weeks<\/strong>*<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com<\/li>\n<li>Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper<\/li>\n<li>Access News Break, our award-winning app<\/li>\n<li>Play interactive puzzles<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<h4>Monthly Digital Subscription<\/h4>\n<p><strong>$4.99\/week<\/strong>*<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com<\/li>\n<li>Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper<\/li>\n<li>Access News Break, our award-winning app<\/li>\n<li>Play interactive puzzles<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>*Billed as $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>KITZB\u00dcHEL, Austria (AP) \u2014 Italian skier Giovanni Franzoni put another exclamation point to his breakout World Cup season Saturday by winning on the classic Streif course, two weeks before the downhill race at his home Olympics.<\/p>\n<p>Read unlimited articles for free today:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>KITZB\u00dcHEL, Austria (AP) \u2014 Italian skier Giovanni Franzoni put another exclamation point to his breakout World Cup season Saturday by winning on the classic Streif course, two weeks before the downhill race at his home Olympics.<\/p>\n<p>Franzoni edged out world champion and overall World Cup leader Marco Odermatt by 0.07 seconds, as the Swiss star\u2019s wait for his first win in the marquee race was extended for at least another year.<\/p>\n<p>Franzoni\u2019s triumph in Kitzb\u00fchel came eight days after his maiden career win in a super-G at another storied World Cup resort, Wengen.<\/p>\n<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/3bbb5e1e9cb9ff4930d7150d1271e81da515cdff9516960a2086544f1e2ae3a9.jpg?w=1000\" data-pswp-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/3bbb5e1e9cb9ff4930d7150d1271e81da515cdff9516960a2086544f1e2ae3a9.jpg?w=320 320w, https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/3bbb5e1e9cb9ff4930d7150d1271e81da515cdff9516960a2086544f1e2ae3a9.jpg?w=600 600w, https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/3bbb5e1e9cb9ff4930d7150d1271e81da515cdff9516960a2086544f1e2ae3a9.jpg?w=1920 1920w\" data-pswp-width=\"1024\" data-pswp-height=\"681\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/3bbb5e1e9cb9ff4930d7150d1271e81da515cdff9516960a2086544f1e2ae3a9.jpg?w=1000\" alt=\"Italy's Giovanni Franzoni speeds down the course during a men's alpine ski World Cup downhill, in Kitzbuehel, Austria, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo\/Gabriele Facciotti)\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><figcaption>Italy&#8217;s Giovanni Franzoni speeds down the course during a men&#8217;s alpine ski World Cup downhill, in Kitzbuehel, Austria, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo\/Gabriele Facciotti)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cUnbelievable. From this morning, I could feel the emotions, the crowd, the atmosphere here. I was super, super excited for the race here,\u201d Franzoni told Austrian TV. \u201cIt\u2019s such a crazy thing for me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The 24-year-old Italian is a former junior world champion in downhill, super-G and combined, but had not been on a World Cup podium before last month, when he placed third in a super-G in Italy. He earned his first World Cup wins four months after his close friend and former roommate, Matteo Franzoso, died in a crash during preseason training in Chile.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was a little bit emotional to start. Last year, I was sharing a room here with Matteo,\u201d Franzoni said. \u201cToday, he was into my mind before the start, I wanted to race for him, to ski fast for him. I\u2019m shaking right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Franzoni set the pace as the second starter. Several racers clocked faster split times but no one was able to keep their advantage on the challenging course.<\/p>\n<p>Third-place Maxence Muzaton, a late starter with bib 29, also led Franzoni during his run but the Frenchman ultimately came up 0.39 short, bumping Franzoni\u2019s Italian teammate Florian Schieder off the podium and into fourth.<\/p>\n<p>Odermatt won the super-G on the same hill Friday and led Franzoni for half of his downhill run, but lost time in the challenging final section of the Streif.<\/p>\n<p>Odermatt, who had won three of the previous four downhills this season, leaned on his ski poles and buried his head in his hands in apparent disappointment after finishing, while Franzoni blew his cheeks in relief while watching from the leader\u2019s box.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cToday, just the victory was good enough, that was my big goal, my big dream,\u201d Odermatt said. \u201cI wanted the win, I knew everything else would be a disappointment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It was Odermatt\u2019s fourth podium result in nine starts in the Kitzb\u00fchel downhill, with a win still lacking.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a privilege that you come here with the red bib, with such a good shape, a body that does exactly what you want, the mind is here, still hungry for this victory, the setup, the skis are working perfectly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere have to be many things that have to fit together to be able to fight for the top spot, and you never know when this will be the next time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Franzoni, who placed 14th upon his debut in the Kitzb\u00fchel downhill a year ago, led both training runs this week and confirmed his strong form with a gutsy run down one of the most frightening courses on the World Cup.<\/p>\n<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/8b87125d1943a50e2c9e487134816ac343acfbeb1002217a3f5555a93bbc245f.jpg?w=1000\" data-pswp-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/8b87125d1943a50e2c9e487134816ac343acfbeb1002217a3f5555a93bbc245f.jpg?w=320 320w, https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/8b87125d1943a50e2c9e487134816ac343acfbeb1002217a3f5555a93bbc245f.jpg?w=600 600w, https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/8b87125d1943a50e2c9e487134816ac343acfbeb1002217a3f5555a93bbc245f.jpg?w=1920 1920w\" data-pswp-width=\"1024\" data-pswp-height=\"682\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/8b87125d1943a50e2c9e487134816ac343acfbeb1002217a3f5555a93bbc245f.jpg?w=1000\" alt=\"Italy's Giovanni Franzoni at the finish area of a men's alpine ski World Cup downhill, in Kitzbuehel, Austria, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo\/Marco Trovati)\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><figcaption>Italy&#8217;s Giovanni Franzoni at the finish area of a men&#8217;s alpine ski World Cup downhill, in Kitzbuehel, Austria, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo\/Marco Trovati)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Skiing in overcloud conditions, racers didn\u2019t fully match their speed from training, when they had perfect visibility under crisp-clear blue skies and Franzoni even came close to the record for the fastest run down the Streif, set at 1 minute, 51.58 seconds by Austria\u2019s Fritz Strobl in 1997.<\/p>\n<p>The next starter after Odermatt, Swiss teammate Franjo von Allmen led Franzoni at each of the first five check points, by one-fifth of a second at the most, but von Allmen lost his advantage when he nearly skied out before entering the steep finish pitch.<\/p>\n<p>Von Allmen had finished runner-up to Odermatt in Friday\u2019s super-G.<\/p>\n<p>The Hahnenkamm weekend is one of the signature events of the World Cup, with 45,000 spectators flocking to the posh Austrian resort on downhill race day.<\/p>\n<p>The race was attended by high-profile guests from politics, society, and sport, including former California governor and action-movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Liverpool manager J\u00fcrgen Klopp, soccer standout Zlatan Ibrahimovic and skiing greats Ingemar Stenmark and Franz Klammer.<\/p>\n<p>The Hahnenkamm weekend features the World Cup races with the highest prize money, paying 101,000 euros ($119,000) to the three winners.<\/p>\n<p>The event concludes with a slalom Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>___<\/p>\n<p>AP skiing: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/alpine-skiing<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>\n\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/javascript:window.print();\" title=\"Print Italian skier Franzoni adds Kitzb\u00fchel downhill win to his breakout season with Olympics looming\"><i><\/i> Print<\/a>\n\t<\/li>\n<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"mailto:?subject=Italian skier Franzoni adds Kitzb\u00fchel downhill win to his breakout season with Olympics looming - via the Winnipeg Free Press&#038;body=https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/uncategorized\/2026\/01\/24\/italian-skier-franzoni-adds-kitzbuhel-downhill-win-to-his-breakout-season-with-home-olympics-looming\" title=\"Share by Email\" target=\"_blank\"><i><\/i> Email<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n\t\t<a title=\"Bookmark\" href=\"http:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/#\"><span><i><\/i><i><\/i><\/span> Read Later<\/a>\n\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t The Associated Press<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/uncategorized\/2026\/01\/24\/italian-skier-franzoni-adds-kitzbuhel-downhill-win-to-his-breakout-season-with-home-olympics-looming\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By: The Associated Press Posted: 6:35 AM CST Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026 Last Modified: 7:15 AM CST Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026 Print Email Read Later KITZB\u00dcHEL, Austria (AP) \u2014 Italian skier Giovanni Franzoni put another exclamation point to his breakout World Cup season Saturday by winning on the classic Streif course, two weeks before the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":891879,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27294,102773],"tags":[16235,142557],"class_list":{"0":"post-891878","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-italian","8":"category-skier","9":"tag-italian","10":"tag-skier"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/891878","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=891878"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/891878\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/891879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=891878"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=891878"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=891878"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}