On the legendary Stelvio course in Bormio, one of the most feared and celebrated tracks in alpine skiing, the men’s downhill at the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games delivered a powerful opening chapter to the alpine programme. Under clear winter skies and in front of an enthusiastic crowd, Monaco’s Arnaud Alessandria took on the ultimate challenge of speed skiing, while Prince Albert II presided over the medal ceremony of this flagship Olympic event.
A controlled descent on an unforgiving track
Competing as Monaco’s sole alpine skier at these Games, Arnaud Alessandria launched himself down the Stelvio knowing that this course allows no hesitation. Reaching speeds well above 120 km/h only seconds after the start, the Monégasque delivered a clean and committed run, crossing the line in 1:57.15 to finish 31st. On a slope renowned for its relentless intensity, he avoided major errors and demonstrated technical control throughout a descent that is as physical as it is spectacular.
“I’m happy to be at the bottom,” Alessandria said after the race, visibly relieved. “The snow conditions were good, it was demanding and physical, but we were lucky with the weather.” Clear-eyed in his analysis, he acknowledged that his performance may have been a little cautious. “The sensations were good at the start, but I probably needed more aggression. It’s solid skiing, but still too respectful. That comes from a lack of mileage and a shortened preparation, and maybe a small deficit of confidence, but it’s something we can build on.”
Olympic stature and royal presence
The downhill confirmed once again its status as the “queen discipline” of the Winter Games. From the finish area to the medal podium, the Olympic dimension of the event was reinforced by the presence of Prince Albert II, member of the International Olympic Committee and President of the Monégasque Olympic Committee. The Sovereign followed Alessandria’s run attentively before taking part in the official ceremony.
Alongside Johan Eliasch, President of the International Ski Federation, Prince Albert II awarded the medals to the three athletes who marked the first major alpine event of Milan–Cortina 2026.
A high-level podium
Victory went to Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen, who claimed the first Olympic gold medal of the Games in a time of 1:51.61. The Italian team thrilled the home crowd as Giovanni Franzoni secured silver, just 0.20 seconds behind, while experienced speed specialist Dominik Paris completed the podium with bronze, 0.50 seconds off the winning pace.
Looking ahead to the super-G
After several intense days of inspections, training runs and the mental strain of Olympic competition, fatigue was evident among the athletes. Alessandria will take a short recovery break before turning his focus to the super-G, scheduled for Wednesday. “Super-G is a discipline where I can really let the skis run,” he explained. “I’ll try to go 100 percent and regain some confidence over the next few days.”
While the result on the Stelvio did not reflect his full potential, Arnaud Alessandria’s Olympic journey in Bormio was marked by determination, composure and resilience. Backed by the presence of Monaco’s Sovereign and looking ahead to the next challenge, the Monégasque skier continues to write his Olympic story on the world’s most demanding slopes.
