Photo-Finish in Kitzbühel: Odermatt Edges von Allmen to Seal Final Super-G Before Olympics Marco Odermatt sent another

Photo-Finish in Kitzbühel: Odermatt Edges von Allmen to Seal Final Super-G Before Olympics
Marco Odermatt sent another clear warning to his Olympic rivals on Friday, narrowly defeating Swiss teammate Franjo von Allmen to win the final men’s World Cup super-G before the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Racing on the iconic Streif course in Kitzbühel, the reigning world champion triumphed by a razor-thin 0.03 seconds, opening the famous Hahnenkamm weekend in dramatic style.
Competing in bright sunshine and near-perfect conditions, Odermatt became the only skier with multiple super-G wins this season, after five different racers had shared victories in the previous events. Despite admitting his run was not flawless, the Swiss star once again proved his consistency and composure at the highest level.
“It was very close, so I am satisfied,” Odermatt said afterward, noting that he felt strong in the upper section but strayed from the ideal line in the middle part of the course. His surprise at seeing his name remain at the top of the leaderboard said it all — the margin was almost invisible.
The finish sparked light-hearted scenes between the two Swiss teammates. Odermatt gestured just how tight the race had been before pointing to von Allmen in the leader’s box, while von Allmen jokingly pretended to grab Odermatt by the neck in mock frustration. “Everyone wants to win here,” Odermatt said. “I understand how hard it is to lose by three-hundredths.”
Behind the Swiss pair, Austria’s Stefan Babinsky and Raphael Haaser thrilled the home crowd by finishing third and fourth, 0.25 and 0.33 seconds back, respectively. Former world champion Vincent Kriechmayr, Odermatt’s closest rival in the super-G standings, placed seventh, allowing the Swiss leader to stretch his advantage to 158 points with three races remaining after the Olympics.
The win also carried historic significance. Odermatt moved to within one victory of Hermann Maier on the men’s all-time World Cup wins list and matched Aksel Lund Svindal’s record of 17 career super-G victories. Only Maier, with 24, has more.
While the race delivered thrills, it also brought concern. Swiss skier Arnaud Boisset suffered a heavy crash on the Seidlalm jump but appeared uninjured, while Norway’s Adrian Smiseth Sejersted narrowly avoided disaster and still finished fifth. Norwegian star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde withdrew with back pain, opting not to risk a start on the demanding Streif.
With confidence high and form peaking, Odermatt now heads toward the Olympic break firmly established as the man to beat in super-G.