Cyrille de la Morinerie with AFP, edited by Yanis Darras // Photo credit: Joe Klamar / AFP
The double is exceptional. This Saturday, Frenchman Cyprien Sarrazin made history by winning the second downhill of Kitzbühel, the day after a first coronation on the legendary Streif. The alpine skier thus becomes the second Frenchman to achieve the feat, 29 years after Luc Alphand. Questioned at the microphone of Europe 1, the latter is happy to finally have a successor.
The French Cyprien Sarrazin achieved an exceptional double by winning the second descent of Kitzbühel on Saturday, the day after a first coronation on the legendary Streif, with a lead of almost a second over his competitors, including the Swiss Marco Odermatt. At 29 years old, Cyprien Sarrazin becomes the eighth skier to win the Kitzbühel downhill twice in the same weekend and joins legends of the discipline such as the Swiss Beat Feuz (2021), the Frenchman Luc Alphand (1995) or the Austrian Karl Schranz (1972).
Asked about this victory, Luc Alphand does not hide his emotion at having finally found a successor, 29 years after his exploit. “This race is magical, because, when we see the departure of Marco Odermatt, he gives an almost unbeatable performance. He even has a cry of victory,” explains the former skier on the microphone of Europe 1.
A winter that still holds surprises?
“Marco Odermatt says to himself that it’s impossible for anyone to go faster. And there, our magician of the day” comes into play, continues Luc Alphand. “He had such a great race. There is commitment, there is a big risk-taking and technical support,” underlines the French winner in 1995.
And for the former athlete, winter would still hold a few surprises. “It’s a great story and it’s not over. Because I think that this fight will last until the end of the season. He will be able to try to perhaps win the little globe of the specialty, it could be an absolutely incredible winter,” concludes Luc Alphand.