2026 Olympic Men’s Alpine Skiing Downhill Preview & Prediction

The men’s downhill skiing competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina is set for February 7 on the iconic Stelvio slope in Bormio. This single-run event pits the world’s fastest downhill specialists against a course that rewards both fearless aggression and elite technique. The recent World Cup season has offered a clear indication of form, and I’ll break that down and make my Olympic men’s alpine skiing downhill prediction below.

Olympic Men’s Downhill Skiing Betting Odds

Below are the latest betting odds for the men’s downhill medal markets at the 2026 Winter Olympics:

• Marco Odermatt (SUI) +225
• Franjo von Allmen (SUI) +275
• Giovanni Franzoni (ITA) +750
• Alexis Monney (SUI) +750
• Dominik Paris (ITA) +900
• Mattia Casse (ITA) +1100
• Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT) +1200
• Ryan Cochran-Siegle (USA) +1400
• Cameron Alexander (CAN) +2500
• Florian Schieder (ITA) +2500
• Nils Allegre (FRA) +4000
• James Crawford (CAN) +4000
• Stefan Rogentin (SUI) +5000
• Stefan Babinsky (AUT) +5000
• Miha Hrobat (SLO): +8000
• All Others: +10000 or more

Olympic Men’s Downhill Skiing Storylines

One of the most important stories ahead of this Olympic downhill competition is the continued dominance of Marco Odermatt. The Swiss star enters the race as the favorite, having led the World Cup downhill standings by a sizable margin and winning multiple speed events this season. He is widely seen as the benchmark against which other contenders are measured.

Franjo von Allmen, also from Switzerland, has emerged the top challenger to his countryman. He claimed victory in the final downhill World Cup before the Olympics and has shown he is capable of beating the best when he’s on form. The fact that teammates can share line insights while still guarding their final race secrets adds an extra layer of intrigue to this race for those two men.

Italian speed ace Dominik Paris will be racing on home soil here. A multiple-time winner on Stelvio throughout his career, Paris knows the twists and demands of this course like few others. His pedigree on fast, steep terrain makes him a dangerous candidate for the podium.

Another rising storyline is Giovanni Franzoni’s breakthrough season. The young Italian has a World Cup downhill win and multiple podiums, and his confidence is high. Meanwhile, Canada’s Ryan Cochran-Siegle has shown he can medal on his best days, earning a podium in Crans-Montana just weeks before the Olympics.

Austrian veteran Vincent Kriechmayr has the experience and speed to crash the podium, especially if conditions favor seasoned skiers who are comfortable in variable snow and wind conditions. Other figures, such as Alexis Monney and emerging names like Mattia Casse and Cameron Alexander, complete a field with plenty of potential dark horses.

Olympic Men’s Downhill Medal Contenders

1. Marco Odermatt (SUI) – Clear gold medal favorite, consistently leading World Cup downhill and overall standings.
2. Franjo von Allmen (SUI) – In excellent form with recent World Cup wins and podiums, poised for major success.
3. Giovanni Franzoni (ITA) – A young talent with a recent World Cup downhill victory and dark horse appeal.
4. Dominik Paris (ITA) – Veteran downhill specialist with deep course knowledge and podium experience.
5. Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT) – Experienced Austrian with strong results and an eye on the podium.
6. Ryan Cochran-Siegle (USA) – American medal threat with a recent podium performance and Olympic experience.

Men’s Downhill Betting Prediction

Pick:

Confidence: 3 out of 5

Final Thoughts

Jay Sanin

Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.