The 40th World Cup season began in October 2005 and concluded at the World Cup finals in Åre, Sweden, in March 2006. The schedule included a nearly month-long break in February for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.
Benjamin Raich of Austria won his first overall title after finishing third in 2004 and second in 2005. He added his second consecutive giant slalom discipline globe, and Michael Walchhofer also repeated as downhill champion. Aksel Lund Svindal and Giorgio Rocca were each first-time winners in super-G and slalom respectively. Svindal edged Hermann Maier by only 2 points, denying the "Herminator" a sixth super-G crown.
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