Italian Skier Wins First World Cup Weeks Before Olympics

A young Italian skier just proved he's ready for the world stage at the perfect moment.

Giovanni Franzoni captured his first World Cup victory on Friday, racing down Switzerland's legendary Lauberhorn course at speeds reaching 87 mph. The 24-year-old's win comes just three weeks before the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics begin in his home country.

Starting first on the course, Franzoni delivered a nearly flawless run in the super-G event. He finished more than a third of a second ahead of Austria's Stefan Babinsky and Switzerland's downhill world champion Franjo von Allmen.

The victory holds special meaning for Franzoni, who races with the memory of his close friend Matteo Franzoso. His former roommate died in a training crash in Chile four months ago.

"I carry the memory of Matteo Franzoso with me at every race," Franzoni said after his win. "We always live day by day."

Franzoni conquered the tricky Canadian Corner and Kernen S sections better than any other racer. He navigated the same turn that ended his 2023 season with a crash requiring thigh surgery.

"I made the difference on the turn where I crashed a few years ago," he explained.

The former world junior champion in super-G, downhill, and Alpine combined had never won at this level before. His previous best finish was third place at Val Gardena in Italy last month.

The Ripple Effect

Franzoni's breakthrough gives Italy fresh hope as the host nation prepares to welcome the world. The men's Alpine skiing events will take place in Bormio during the Games.

His confidence is building at the ideal time. Franzoni also led both downhill training sessions and could contend in Saturday's classic downhill race on the same course.

"If you had told me that I would be third in Val Gardena and then win here, on the two courses that I've had the most trouble on, I wouldn't have believed it," Franzoni said.

Swiss overall World Cup leader Marco Odermatt finished fourth, while American Ryan Cochran-Siegle placed sixth. The opening ceremony for the Milan Cortina Olympics is scheduled for February 6.

Italy now has a new star to cheer for when the world's attention turns to their mountains in three weeks.