Mega talent impresses on the Saslong: the ski world is jealous of Von Allmen – but his trainer warns

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At no other World Cup location has Dominik Paris experienced as many moments of frustration as in Val Gardena (It). With the exception of third place in 2014, the 110 kilo colossus, who grew up almost a fifty-minute drive from Val Gardena in Ulten, has always passed the downhill podium on the Saslong. After finishing 42nd in his home race last year, Paris told the landlord of the Italian team hotel: “Next year I won’t come here anymore, starting further on this slope is completely pointless for me!”

The six-time Bormio champion and four-time Kitzbühel winner then changed his mind. And Paris is having a phenomenal run – at the finish the 34-year-old is four-tenths ahead of defending champion Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (31) and 60-hundredths ahead of American Bryce Bennett (31), who won the shortened downhill on this stretch on Thursday.

Gain insight about the chairlift

And the Swiss? Overall World Cup leader Marco Odermatt (26) almost missed a goal when entering the “Ciaslat” and finished in seventh place in the final rankings. Niels Hintermann (28) from Zurich finished tenth.

The secret winner of this race comes from the Bernese Oberland and is called Franjo von Allmen. The 22-year-old finished twelfth with starting number 42. And this result is even worth more than the ninth place that the trained carpenter achieved in the Super-G a day earlier. Unlike this descent, the Super-G did not contain any really selective passages. And the three-time vice-world junior champion of 2022 shows how confidently he can master the most difficult situations with the best time in the section in the “Ciaslat”. Missing this key point in the first practice and in the shortened descent, Von Allmen arrived late at the starting area. Because: “I watched a few more rides on TV in my hotel room, and also watched a few athletes from the chairlift. I wanted to collect as many impressions as possible to be certain,” says Von Allmen, who grew up in Boltigen at the foot of the Jaun Pass.

The great danger

After this performance at the latest, the entire ski world will envy us for this mega talent. “Von Allmen embodies the rare combination of a strong technician and a sensitive glider,” says Austrian Alpine boss Herbert Mandl. German ski legend Felix Neureuther adds: “What this Von Allmen can do is really impressive.”

Former world downhill champion Franz Heinzer (61), who polished this rough diamond as a coach until last winter in the European Cup, played an enormous role in Von Allmen’s development. Since his move to the World Cup, Von Allmen has been exceptionally coached by former Schwyz World Cup downhill skier Vitus Lüönd.

Swiss ski speed boss Reto Nydegger is convinced “Franjo will be great!” At the same time, Nydegger raises a warning finger: “We must pay particular attention to Franjo that he remains healthy. He still goes way too wild in sections. And if that doesn’t change, things won’t always go well. He has to learn to use tactics.”

Source : Blick