Jan Zabystran (CZE) pulled off a massive upset to win the super-G in Val Gardena (1:24.36). It was his first World Cup win, first Cup podium and he became the first man Alpine skier from Czechia to win a Cup event.

The inevitable Marco Odermatt (SUI), who triumphed in Thursday’s downhill to tally his 50th overall Cup win, proved “evitable”, sliding into second (+0.22).

Giovanni Franzoni (ITA) picked up third, claiming his first-career Cup podium (+0.37). The accomplishment was made even sweeter by the fact that he reached it on home snow.

Kyle Negomir (USA) was the standout competitor for the Americans for a second day in a row, coming in 19th. U.S. teammate Bryce Bennett (USA), whose two career Cup wins have come at Val Gardena, placed 26th. Sam Morse (USA) capped off his run, good for 30th, by busting out a moose antler celebration (his nickname is “Moose”).

River Radamus (USA), Ryan Cochran-Siegle (USA) — who has two podiums in Val Gardena — fell outside the top-30. Jared Goldberg (USA), last year’s runner-up on the Saslong slopes, DNF’d.

The day, undoubtedly, belonged to Zabystran. The 27-year-old seemingly came out of nowhere, the 29th bib to be specific, to disrupt the status quo and upend the race. Odermatt looked like he was well on his way to career Cup win No. 51 less than 24 hours after he reached the half century mark and was in line to break the tie for fourth all time in men’s Alpine skiing history in Cup victories. Zabystran swooped in like a hawk to do what Odermatt has done to countless others over the course of his career: snatch victory from his fingertips.

A few positions before the Czechian left the starting gate, the French team radio reported a tailwind at the bottom of the piste to Blaise Giezendanner (FRA), who wore bib No. 26. Sometimes Mother Nature is the difference maker, and in this case, a history maker. 

“Two years ago I dreamed to be in the top 30,” Zabystran said post-race. “After a really good last season, I thought maybe someday I can have a podium like Ondrej Bank, but to have the first World Cup win, and also, after yesterday's not so good result, it's something so beautiful.”  

The only other Czechian Alpine ski racer to earn a Cup victory is on the women’s side. Ester Ledecka, who’s elected to focus her 2026 Olympic efforts on snowboarding, has four wins and 11 podiums. She’s also the 2018 Olympic gold medalist in super-G.

Although he finished a measly second, at least for his standards, Odermatt collected 80 FIS Cup points, catapulting him into first place in the discipline for the 2025-26 season. Odi now leads the points race in super-G, downhill and giant slalom, setting him on pace to claim four Crystal Globes — a feat he’s achieved in each of the last two Cup campaigns.

World Cup action in Val Gardena concludes for the men with a downhill.