At the historic Lauberhorn course in Wengen, the first Super-G race of the weekend brought a sporting surprise. The 24-year-old Italian Giovanni Franzoni took his first Ski World Cup victory with start number 1. Franzoni, who had suffered serious injuries at the same location in the past, set a top time that the favorites could not beat.
Behind the Italian, the Austrian Stefan Babinsky finished in second place. For the 29-year-old from Styria, this meant the first podium finish of his career in his 94th World Cup race. The podium was completed by the Swiss Franjo von Allmen, who finished just behind Babinsky in third place. The overall World Cup leader Marco Odermatt had to settle for fourth place under changing visibility conditions.
While the focus in Wengen was on the sport, the Swiss ski resort Crans-Montana is preparing for the women's and men's World Cup races planned for the end of January. Following the devastating fire disaster on New Year's Eve, which claimed numerous lives, it was decided after consultations between the organizers, Swiss-Ski, and the international federation FIS to proceed with the races. However, the events will take place on a significantly reduced scale. Side events and parties in the town center have been canceled; instead, moments of silence and remembrance are planned in the finish area to pay respect to the victims.
