 In the following years he was a constant factor in top 10 standings, but was unable to win any races.In 1995-96 he came second at the Austrian national Championships in downhill.Finally, during the 1999-2000 season Franz won his first World Cup race by finishing in front of all his opponents except Fritz Strobl in the Super G race in Sankt Anton; Strobl and Franz finished in exactly the same time and shared the victory.