Giovanni Franzoni dedicates his downhill victory on the Streif to his late teammate Matteo Franzoso. The Italian speaks emotionally about the loss of his “big brother”.
Giovanni Franzoni wins the Streif downhill! For the Italian, it is his second victory in the current World Cup and probably the greatest success of his career so far. In the finish area, tears repeatedly came to his eyes – sometimes from joy, sometimes from sadness.
Behind the 24-year-old lie emotional months, marked by a fatal blow of fate. Before the season, he and the Italian team had to endure a bitter loss. After a fall in a training camp in Chile, teammate Matteo Franzoso died.
Giovanni Franzoni commemorates his late friend Matteo Franzoso
Streif Winner: “At the start, I had Matteo in my head”
Franzoni had been friends with him for years and he referred to Franzoso as his “big brother”. The Italian had already dedicated his first World Cup podium in Val Gardena and his first victory in Wengen to him.
Also on Saturday afternoon on the Streif, the 24-year-old cried and reported to Eurosport that the two had shared a room last year during the World Cup weekend in Kitzbühel: “I’m trembling. It was a special race; already at the start, I had Matteo in my head.”
Already at the finish line after his strong downhill run, the Italian pointed his right index finger towards the sky, to send a sign to his deceased companion.
Thoughts of his friend never truly leave him. A few days ago he had declared: “I think of Matteo every day. For the rest of my life, I will ski for him. This tragedy also gives me the necessary strength this season.” In Kitzbühel, he flew to a celebrated victory.