Giovanni Franzoni / GEPA pictures
Giovanni Franzoni wins Lauberhorn super-G wire-to-wire for first World Cup victory
Wengen, Switzerland — On a beautiful Swiss morning that later turned overcast and demanding, Giovanni Franzoni delivered the defining run of his young career. Starting first, the 24-year-old Italian set the time at 1:45.19 and never gave up the lead, winning the Lauberhorn super-G wire-to-wire for his first World Cup victory and second career World Cup podium.
There were no lead changes all day. Franzoni laid down the standard from bib 1 and then watched one of the strongest super-G fields of the season try — and fail — to run him down.
Top six — Lauberhorn super-G
1st Giovanni Franzoni 🇮🇹 (2001) — 1:45.19
2nd Stefan Babinsky 🇦🇹 (1996, HEAD) — +0.35
3rd Franjo von Allmen 🇨🇭 (2001, HEAD) — +0.37
4th Marco Odermatt 🇨🇭 (1997, Stöckli) — +0.53
5th Raphael Haaser 🇦🇹 (1997, Atomic) — +0.68
6th Ryan Cochran-Siegle 🇺🇸 (1992, HEAD) — +0.83
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WENGEN, SWITZERLAND,16.JAN.26 – Stefan Babinsky (AUT), Giovanni Franzoni (ITA) and Franjo von Allmen (SUI). Photo: GEPA pictures/ Alexander Solc
A benchmark run from the first starter
Franzoni’s victory was built on control and intelligence rather than one spectacular split. He stayed close through the upper sections, preserved speed through the middle, and then finished stronger than anyone else at the bottom. As conditions slowly changed and visibility contrast faded, that efficiency became untouchable.
By the time the race reached the heart of the start list, it was clear the Italian had forced everyone else into a chase — and no one could catch him.
Career-defining podiums behind the winner
Austria’s Stefan Babinsky, 29, skied into second place for the first World Cup podium of his career. It was a breakthrough moment on one of the sport’s biggest stages and a result that could carry significant weight in Austria’s Olympic selection picture.
Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen, also 24, finished third for his fifth career World Cup super-G podium, once again proving his consistency at the top level. Von Allmen briefly put himself back into contention late in the run but could not match Franzoni’s finishing speed.
Pre-race favorite Marco Odermatt stayed close but never found his usual mid-course separation and ended the day fourth, while Raphael Haaser completed the top five with another strong, complete performance.
Franzoni on first World Cup victory
Winning wire-to-wire from bib 1 on the Lauberhorn carried special meaning for Giovanni Franzoni, both professionally and personally.
“Starting with bib 1, I had a lot of pressure,” Franzoni said. “But this is a legendary race, with a beautiful crowd and landscape. I just told myself to enjoy it — ski well, ski fast.”
The Italian’s breakthrough came on a slope tied to one of the hardest moments of his career. Three years ago, he suffered a serious crash at Canadian Corner and endured a long recovery.
“Today, that was the place where I made the difference,” he said. “Maybe it’s destiny.”
Franzoni said the process reshaped his mindset as much as his body, shifting his focus away from results and back to enjoyment.
“I grew a lot mentally,” he said. “I tried to enjoy every day, enjoy the slope, enjoy the speed. That helped me push away the negative thoughts.”
“This is a team victory,” Franzoni said. “My family, my coaches, my serviceman, my physical trainer — everyone who supported me.”
Standing at the bottom of the Lauberhorn with his first World Cup win secured, Franzoni summed it up simply.
“Winning here is something special,” he said. “It’s incredible.”
Babinsky on first World Cup podium
After earning his first World Cup podium in his 94th start, Stefan Babinsky reflected on the breakthrough moment at Wengen.
“It was a very good run and I am proud of it,” Babinsky said. “It was a tough fight the last years. I got some fourth places but never a podium. I always trusted in myself, and I think that’s probably the key.”
At 29, the Austrian finally converted years of near-misses into a podium on one of alpine skiing’s most demanding stages.
von Allmen reacts to Wengen podium
For Franjo von Allmen, the result carried perspective. The 24-year-old Swiss skier admitted his run was far from perfect but was still good enough for the podium.
“My run, I am not too happy with,” von Allmen said. “I had a big mistake and I was pretty surprised to go onto the podium with this run. So at the end of the day, I would say I’m really happy.”
Von Allmen also acknowledged the significance of Franzoni’s breakthrough on the same slope where he claimed his first World Cup victory one year earlier.
“It’s really cool,” von Allmen said. “Last year I had my first victory here, and he is the same age as me. I feel very happy for him that he can win here in Wengen. I don’t think it’s only something special for the Swiss — I think it’s something special for every racer.”
Cochran-Siegle leads the Stifel U.S. Ski Team
WENGEN, SWITZERLAND, 16.JAN.26 – ALPINE SKIING – Ryan Cochran-Siegle (USA). Photo: GEPA pictures/ Alexander Solc
Ryan Cochran-Siegle 🇺🇸 delivered the top U.S. result, finishing sixth (+0.83). It marked his best super-G result of the season, surpassing his previous best of 10th at Copper Mountain in the opening race.
“I think it was a good, solid approach,” Cochran-Siegle said. “I felt pretty keyed in on my skiing, and with the super-G set fairly similar to the downhill, I could trust it more and know what to expect.”
Already qualified for the U.S. men’s Olympic team thanks to his Beaver Creek downhill podium, Cochran-Siegle also added another super-G Olympic criteria check — an encouraging sign as the Olympic season builds.
“My skiing has been solid through the season,” he said. “I’ve had moments that were really strong, like Beaver Creek downhill and Copper super-G. The last few races felt a little stagnant, so today was about getting back to that good focus in the run.”
Looking ahead to the Lauberhorn downhill, Cochran-Siegle emphasized simplicity and trust.
“Watching Franzoni today, he was just so clean,” he said. “For me, it’s about trusting my skiing and trusting that focus when I ski well — then resetting and refocusing for tomorrow.”
Stifel U.S. Ski Team — top 30 (points)
- Ryan Cochran-Siegle 🇺🇸 (1992, HEAD) — 6th, +0.83
- Sam Morse 🇺🇸 (1994, TOKO) — 15th, +1.92
- Kyle Negomir 🇺🇸 (1998, Atomic) — 16th, +2.02
- River Radamus 🇺🇸 (1998) — 26th, +2.78
The U.S. finished the day with four skiers in the points, a solid performance on one of the World Cup’s most demanding super-G tracks.
Morse and Negomir deliver under Olympic pressure
Sam Morse produced one of the standout runs of the day, charging from a high bib into the top 15 despite flat light and deteriorating conditions.
“It felt a little loose, but I knew that’s what it was going to take,” Morse said. “It was dark and bumpy at the bottom, but I trusted that I could go straighter than the tracks, and that made the difference.”
With Olympic selection pressure mounting, the result carried extra weight.
“This is one of those days when you dig deep and hope it comes,” Morse said. “Olympics are looming, spots are tight, and to put it together here in Wengen is really special.”
Just behind him, Kyle Negomir continued his strong season with another solid performance inside the top 20.
“I’ve never actually scored points here, so it felt good to put a run together — even with a couple mistakes — and have an approach I was proud of,” Negomir said.
Negomir acknowledged the mental strain of an Olympic season but said his confidence is growing.
“I finally feel like I’m starting to put all the puzzle pieces together,” he said.
Canada
Canada did not feature near the front, but still placed multiple skiers inside the top 30.
Canada — top 30
- James “Jack” Crawford 🇨🇦 (1997, HEAD) — 20th, +2.46
- Cameron Alexander 🇨🇦 (1997) — 24th, +2.65
- Riley Seger 🇨🇦 (2000) — 29th, +2.99
Brodie Seger crashed in the second sector at Canadian Corner but rose to his feet and skied to the finish.
Flat light turns the race in two
As clouds moved in after the early starters, the Lauberhorn effectively became two different races. Early bibs enjoyed sharper definition, while later racers faced flatter light and reduced contrast. The conditions mattered — a lot — but ability still separated the field.
That was especially clear among the high-bib skiers who pushed deep into the points despite the disadvantage.
High-bib impact (bib 31+) — elite skiing rewarded
- Bib 47 — Sam Morse 🇺🇸 (1994, TOKO) — 15th, +1.92
- Highest bib and best finisher among 31+
- Skied in flat light
- A defining run that firmly places him in the Olympic conversation
- Bib 35 — Andreas Ploier 🇦🇹 (1997, HEAD) — 17th, +2.09
- Bib 43 — Benjamin Jacques Alliod 🇮🇹 (1997) — 18th, +2.27
- Bib 49 — Sam Alphand 🇫🇷 (1996) — 23rd, +2.64
- Bib 46 — Florian Schieder 🇮🇹 (1995) — 25th, +2.69
- Bib 34 — Riley Seger 🇨🇦 (2000) — 29th, +2.99
- Bib 32 — Marco Kohler 🇨🇭 (1998) — 30th, +3.05
These performances reinforced a core truth of alpine racing: high level skiing is always paramount — and it is always rewarded, even when conditions turn difficult.
A breakthrough day on the Lauberhorn
Franzoni’s first World Cup victory, Babinsky’s first career podium, and a wave of high-bib excellence combined to define a memorable Lauberhorn super-G. From the first starter to the final finishers in flat light, the race rewarded precision, courage, and control — and crowned a new World Cup winner on one of the sport’s most iconic stages.
Top 30 results
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Analysis of the top four and North Americans among the top 30
