Giovanni Franzoni at the Hundschopfkante in Wengen. © ANSA / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

Giovanni Franzoni's finest hour in Wengen

Giovanni Franzoni secured his first World Cup victory in the Super-G in Wengen. This marked the young Italian's first major triumph.

16 January 2026

From: dl

He has long been considered a huge talent in Italy. But in the big leagues, meaning the World Cup, Franzoni had been denied a major breakthrough until his third-place finish in the Super-G in Val Gardena almost a month ago. On Friday, the 24-year-old from Manerba on Lake Garda went one better in Wengen, clinching victory at the Lauberhorn.

Franzoni was already by far the fastest in both downhill training runs at the foot of the Lauberhorn. In the Super-G, the technically gifted Italian has now proven what he is capable of. The all-rounder made perfect use of his starting number 1 and was in a class of his own, especially in the Kernen and Finish S sections. This performance is gradually positioning Franzoni as one of the dark horses for the Olympics in Bormio.

Giovanni Franzoni celebrated his first victory. © APA/afp / DIMITAR DILKOFF

On a rather unchallenging Super-G course with a start above the Hundschopfkante, Austrian Stefan Babinsky surprisingly finished second. It was the 29-year-old's first World Cup podium finish. Franzoni and Babinsky relegated the error-prone Swiss favorites, Franco von Allmen and Marco Odermatt, to third and fourth place respectively.

Paris prevents fall

The injured Dominik Paris was eliminated in the upper section of the course. The skier from Ultental slipped on the icy track but avoided a fall. Paris then briefly touched his injured ankle, unfastened his ski boots, and skied to the finish line on his own. It appears Paris was not injured on Friday.

Dominik Paris gave the all-clear at the finish line. © ANSA / PETER SCHNEIDER

The other South Tyroleans, Christof Innerhofer and Florian Schieder, finished in 21st and 25th place respectively. The action continues in Wengen on Saturday (12:30 pm) with the longest downhill race in the ski circuit. The Lauberhorn weekend concludes on Sunday (10:00 am/1:00 pm) with the slalom.