The Albany Gazette - Winter Olympics men's downhill: Three things to watch

Competition from a strong Italian squad featuring in-form Giovanni Franzoni and veteran Dominik Paris is expected to be fierce.

AFP Sport looks at three things to watch:

- King Odi and the Swiss squadron -

Marco Odermatt insisted he will feel little pressure on the Stelvio course, having already won Olympic giant slalom gold four years ago in Beijing.

The 28-year-old, however, admitted that triumphing in the blue riband event of alpine skiing was the ultimate goal in a racer's career.

"I'd obviously prefer to take the downhill because it's still the king's discipline," the reigning world super-G champion said.

"If I show my good skiing, I know I can win some medals."

Odermatt will be pushed hard by teammate Franjo von Allmen, who won downhill gold at last season's world championships in Saalbach.

Von Allmen, 24, has also won two World Cup downhills this season to Odermatt's three, with Giovanni Franzoni claiming the other, in Kitzbuehel.

"Marco shows what's possible and for me he's a big inspiration to do the same thing and try my best to get good at skiing," said Von Allmen.

"We are a good team, with really good results."

- Franzoni, Paris carry home hopes -

"All season they're skiing very well," Odermatt said of his Italian rivals. "Dominik (Paris) is a six-time Bormio downhill winner. Franzoni is the up-and-comer -- he has nothing to lose. He's in great form."

Paris may be a veteran at the age of 36, but he knows Bormio well, with seven World Cup victories (six downhill, one super-G) on what is considered one of the toughest slopes on the circuit.

"That would be the best of the best," Paris said of potentially winning gold on the Stelvio.

"I try to do my best, like the other guys, and the time counts, so we will see what happens."

Franzoni, 24, outpaced Odermatt for a famous win on the notorious Streif course in Kitzbuehel and has set his sights high in his maiden World Cup season.

"All the Swiss guys are fast, but also some Austrian guys and my teammates are competitive," he said.

"I feel good on the slope. We have a good team and are skiing really well."

- Kriechmayr flying Austrian flag -

Vincent Kriechmayr, 34, will seek Olympic glory to go with his two gold medals from the 2021 world championships in Cortina, where he won both the downhill and super-G.

"I have to watch the other athletes now, making some analysis," he said after the third and final training session spent fine-tuning which lines to take down the course.

"I just have to keep pushing from top to bottom.

"It's still a fight, it's not like the Lauberhorn (in Wengen, Switzerland) or Kitzbuehel where the middle part is easier. Here, it's from start to the end, a fight.

"There's still a lot of respect, but no fear. It's a big honour to represent Austria at the Olympics. I try to make it a good run."

The Austrian team also includes world giant slalom champion Raphael Haaser, Stefan Babinsky and Daniel Hemetsberger.

Hemetsberger sustained a nasty fall in training, but will take to Saturday's downhill bandages and all.

"Tomorrow my mind will be better at the start," Hemetsberger said after Friday's third and final training run.

"I'm a bit of a psychopath.... I wasn't sure at the start if it would be good or not. But I tried and I believed. And it was good enough."

(C.Young--TAG)