Press release -
Franjo von Allmen nails first World Cup victory in Wengen
It’s a Franjo von Allmen ski fest! At his home race in Wengen on Friday, the Swiss athlete wins his first World Cup victory, snatching the lead in the Super-G in front of his HEAD team-mate Vincent Kriechmayr. On Saturday, the 23-year-old podiums again finishing in second place in the Downhill. In the Slalom on Sunday, Atle Lie McGrath is delighted with his third World Cup victory. In Cortina d'Ampezzo, Kajsa Vickhoff Lie finishes second in the Downhill on Saturday to take her first podium of the season. On Sunday, Lara Gut-Behrami and Corinne Suter podium in second and third place in the Super-G.
"There were mainly only highlights for us this weekend. Franjo von Allmen's first victory with Vincent Kriechmayr in second place in the Super-G. James Crawford is also back. Franjo von Allmen's second place in the Downhill and then Atle Lie McGrath's victory in the Slalom. That was a superb moment for him, and for us," is how HEAD Racing Director Rainer Salzgeber analysed the results of the men's team. "Hopefully Vincent Kriechmayr's injury is not too serious. He has severely strained the inner ligament in his knee. But the World Cup should still be possible. Leaving Wengen with two victories and a second place; that's simply superb. Seeing Corinne Suter back on the podium after her injury is really cool. And right now, leading up to the start of the World Cup. I'm very pleased for her. The same applies to the awesome performance by Kajsa Vickhoff Lie. Results like this across all disciplines in one weekend - in both the men's and women's events - it's just amazing."
"It couldn't have gone better, I'm delighted"
Franjo von Allmen finally made the breakthrough in his tenth World Cup Super-G. Following three podium finishes - third place in the Super-G in Garmisch in January 2024 and two second places in the Downhill in Val Gardena and Bormio in December 2024 - this weekend the Swiss athlete stood on top of the podium for the first time in the Super-G in Wengen. "It couldn't have gone better, I'm delighted. It's nice to be compared to Marco Odermatt, but I am trying to go my own way. We are a young speed team, everyone is skiing at their best," said an excited Franjo von Allmen at the finish.
Vincent Kriechmayr one tenth of a second behind Franjo von Allmen
Second place in the Super-G went to Vincent Kriechmayr, one tenth of a second behind. This is the second podium this season for the Austrian athlete following his second place in the Super-G in Bormio in December. "It was a flawless run and I'm very satisfied with it," said Vincent Kriechmayr. In the Downhill on Saturday he unfortunately fell and injured his knee. The Canadian athlete James Crawford finished in fourth place just missing the podium by four hundredths of a second. Also finishing in the top 15 were Lukas Feurstein from Austria in tenth place, Ryan Cochran-Siegle from the USA who was eleventh, Justin Murisier from Switzerland 14th, and Stefan Babinsky from Austria in 15th place. World Cup points were also bagged by Stefan Eichberger from Austria in 23rd place, and Nils Alphand from France who was 26th.
"I wanted to transform everything into positive energy"
Franjo von Allmen crowned his weekend on the Lauberhorn run with second place in the Downhill on Saturday. "When I crossed the finish line and it lit up green, I was very pleased indeed. After the Super-G it was a long day and there were a lot of emotions to deal with. I wanted to transform everything into positive energy. That worked well," said the Swiss athlete. World Cup points were also scored by Justin Murisier in seventh place, James Crawford ninth, Ryan Cochran-Siegle eleventh, Matthieu Bailet from France 20th, Stefan Babinsky 21st, and Henrik von Appen from Chile in 23rd place.
Atle Lie McGrath snatches first victory since 2022
Atle Lie McGrath rounded off the dream weekend for HEAD on Sunday in the Slalom with his third World Cup win, following his victories in the Slaloms in Flachau and Courchevel/Meribel in 2022. It is also his first victory since injuring his cruciate ligament in 2023. The 24-year-old Norwegian athlete has already podiumed four times this season. Three times in Slaloms and once in a Giant Slalom. "It was very emotional for me today. I was under so much pressure, and my last win was three years ago. I knew I had to ski fast without making a mistake. It was the greatest mental challenge in my life. I felt bad in the morning and had it in my head that today was not going to go well. I had to work hard at it. Now I'm standing here as the winner in Wengen, and it's a legendary victory for me," said Atle Lie McGrath.
First podium this season for Kajsa Vickhoff Lie
Kajsa Vickhoff Lie was very happy to celebrate her first podium of the season. The Norwegian athlete finished the Downhill in Cortina d'Ampezzo in second place on Saturday. No fewer than eight HEAD World Cup Rebels finished in the top 14 with Lara Gut-Behrami and Corinne Suter from Switzerland coming fourth and fifth, Cornelia Hütter from Austria sixth, Laura Pirovano from Italy eleventh, Stephanie Venier from Austria and Laura Gauche from France both twelfth, and Ariane Rädler from Austria in 14th place. World Cup Points were also bagged by Delia Durrer from Switzerland in 19th place, Lindsey Vonn from the USA 20th, Magdalena Egger from Austria 25th, Nina Ortlieb from Austria 27th, and Keely Cashman from the USA in 28th place.
Lara Gut-Behrami keeps the Red Jersey in the Super-G
On Sunday, the HEAD World Cup Rebels continued their run of success in the Super-G in Cortina d'Ampezzo. Two Swiss athletes in the HEAD team were on the podium with Lara Gut-Behrami in second place and Corinne Suter third. As a result Lara Gut-Behrami keeps the Red Jersey in the Super-G World Cup. It was Corinne Suter's first podium since suffering a serious knee injury in the Downhill in Cortina d'Ampezzo in January 2024. The HEAD World Cup Rebels also took fourth place with Elena Curtoni from Italy. Yet another superb HEAD team performance was secured by Kajsa Vickhoff Lie in sixth place, Ariane Rädler eighth, Cornelia Hütter ninth, Emma Aicher from Germany tenth, Laura Pirovano twelfth, Karen Clement from France 17th, Keely Cashman 23rd, Tricia Mangan from the USA 24th, and Nina Ortlieb in 29th place.
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