The Azzurri are already sounding the alarm on the Streif.

Italian skiers made a strong impression again at the second downhill training run in Kitzbühel. Among them were two skiers from South Tyrol.

21 January 2026

From: dl

Giovanni Franzoni is currently in superb form. The 24-year-old from Manerba on Lake Garda, after his successes in Wengen, also secured the fastest two training times in Kitzbühel. Franzoni is a daredevil: The Italian already took extreme risks on Wednesday – without regard for the consequences. His confidence is palpable after his podium finishes (including his first victory) at the Lauberhorn.

Franzoni was significantly faster in the renewed good weather than during the initial test run the previous day. If the weather and track conditions remain the same, the course record of 1:51,58 minutes, held by Fritz Strobl since 1997, will be in danger on Saturday.

"We'd better bundle up, that's quite a statement from that lad." Vincent Kriechmayr on Giovanni Franzoni

“It takes a bit more to beat Giovanni. He must have been driving really well, we better watch out, that's quite a statement from that lad,” said, for example, the Austrian Vincent Kriechmayr (10th).

Innerhofer also strong again

After posting the second-fastest time on Tuesday, Christof Innerhofer also put in a strong performance. The 41-year-old from Puster Valley is currently in top form and finished fourth in the second downhill training run. He was just under four-tenths of a second behind Franzoni. Kitzbühel specialist Florian Schieder (who has finished second here twice) came in eighth.

Florian Schieder is a force to be reckoned with on the Streif. © APA / EXPA/ JOHANN GRODER

In total, four Italians finished in the top eight, with Mattia Casse posting the sixth fastest time. Dominik Paris, like many other top favorites, didn't take full risks and finished 19th, 1,38 seconds behind Franzoni. Thursday is a rest day in Kitzbühel before the Super-G on Friday. The legendary downhill race on the Streif will then take place on Saturday. Both races start at 8:11.30 a.m.

2. Downhill training in Kitzbühel

Pos	Name	Country	Time
1.	John Franzoni	ITA	1.52.21 Minutes
2.	Nils Alpand	From	+0,09 seconds
3.	Stefan Babinsky	TUE	+0,29
4.	Christoph Innerhofer	ITA/Gais	+0,39
5.	Alexis Monney	SUI	+0,50
6.	Mattia Casse	ITA	+0,51
7.	Felix Monsen	SWE	+0,55
8.	Florian Schieder	ITA/Castelrotto	+0,72
9.	Marco Odermatt	SUI	+0,96
10.	Vincent Kriechmayr	TUE	+1,09

19.	dominik paris	ITA/Ulten	+1,38
49.	Max Perathoner	ITA/Wolkenstein	+3,85