{"id":1838840,"date":"2026-03-21T11:36:53","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T08:36:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1838840"},"modified":"2026-03-21T11:36:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T08:36:53","slug":"dominik-paris-dominates-downhill-at-kvitfjell-norway-as-world-cup-finals-get-underway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1838840","title":{"rendered":"Dominik Paris Dominates Downhill at Kvitfjell, Norway, as World Cup Finals Get Underway"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dominik Paris wins the last World Cup of the 2025-26 season. | Image: FIS Alpine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The World Cup Finals opened Saturday, March 21, under clear skies in Kvitfjell, Norway, with the men\u2019s downhill delivering a high-speed showcase on the Olympiabakken course ahead of the women\u2019s race later in the day.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Victory went to Italy\u2019s Dominik Paris, who produced a commanding run to beat Switzerland\u2019s Franjo von Allmen and Austria\u2019s Vincent Kriechmayr. <\/strong>Paris finished 0.19 seconds ahead of von Allmen, with Kriechmayr 0.60 seconds back in third.<\/p>\n

At 36, Paris continues to cement his legacy on one of his most successful tracks\u2014he has now won five downhill and two Super-G in Kvitfjell. <\/strong>The victory marked his 20th career downhill win and 25th victory overall and extended his remarkable record at Kvitfjell, where he has now claimed a total of seven victories over the years.<\/p>\n

Skiing with precision and aggression, Paris set the tone early, carrying speed through every sector as the green light remained in his favour from top to bottom.<\/strong> Few could match his pace on a course that has long suited his powerful style.<\/p>\n

The race was opened by Slovenia\u2019s Miha Hrobat, who set a strong early benchmark with a time of 1:46.23, ultimately finishing fifth.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Switzerland\u2019s Alexis Monney briefly took the lead, undercutting Hrobat\u2019s time, before Kriechmayr became the first skier to break the 1:46 barrier, posting 1:45.97.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That mark held until the podium winner entered the starting gate, with von Allmen delivering a clean, fast run before Paris surged ahead to claim victory.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Swiss star Marco Odermatt, who had already secured both the overall and downhill Crystal Globes, finished seventh, 0.92 seconds off the lead. <\/strong>While not a factor in the race for victory, Odermatt\u2019s season dominance remains unquestioned, with the 26-year-old also having wrapped up the super-G title and in contention for the giant slalom globe later in the finals.<\/p>\n

Odermatt had the crystal globe in the pocket ahead of today\u2019s race. | Image: FIS Alpine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The race also carried emotional weight, marking the final World Cup appearance of Nils Hintermann. <\/strong>The 30-year-old Swiss skier, who just last weekend announced his immediate retirement following a battle with cancer, was given the opportunity by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) to take a ceremonial final run.<\/p>\n

Skiing without pressure, Hintermann completed his descent with visible composure\u2014an especially meaningful moment after previously revealing struggles with panic attacks in the start gate. <\/strong>His final run served as a fitting and positive conclusion to his career.<\/p>\n