Giovanni Franzoni once again set the fastest time in practice. © APA/afp / FABRICE COFFRINI

Franzoni excels in Wengen, concerns about Paris

In the second training run for the world's longest downhill race in Wengen, Italian Giovanni Franzoni once again set the fastest time. Dominik Paris, however, caused a scare.

15 January 2026

From: dl

Franzoni was once again the man to beat in the second Wengen training run. The 24-year-old from Manerba on Lake Garda was over a second faster than the competition on Thursday as well. This time, at the foot of the Lauberhorn, he beat the two Frenchmen Maxence Muzaton and Nils Allegre by 1,14 and 1,17 seconds respectively.

Franzoni already finished third in the Super-G in Val Gardena this year. The Italian has never reached the podium in the downhill, his best result being an eighth-place finish. In any case, Franzoni has emerged as one of the dark horses for both the Super-G on Friday (12:30 pm) and the downhill on Saturday (12:30 pm).

Paris and the ankle

Paris's ankle was a cause for concern. The skier from Ultental collapsed into the snow after crossing the finish line and clutched his left ski boot. He then limped around the finish area. What had happened to the 37-year-old? "It's nothing serious. I've had this pain since November in Copper Mountain. When it's really icy and the course is so long, I feel it in my ankle. I hope it doesn't hinder me in the race," Paris explained afterward.

Dominik Paris was in pain at the finish line. © ANSA / PETER SCHNEIDER

Despite the pain, Paris was the second-fastest Italian in the final training run, finishing 22nd. However, the gaps between the teams were significant overall. The two Swiss riders, Marco Odermatt (13th) and Franjo von Allmen (51st), also failed to show their true potential. The other South Tyrolean riders, Florian Schieder (42nd) and Christof Innerhofer (57th), also finished with a considerable deficit.

2. Downhill training in Wengen