Bertagnolli and Bauchet complete technical doubles in Maribor, as Pedersen retains Slalom title at Para Alpine Worlds

Giacomo Bertagnolli and Arthur Bauchet completed technical doubles on Day Three of the 2025 Para Alpine World Ski Championships on Monday (10 February), as Jesper Pedersen clinched his third consecutive Slalom title in the Sitting category.

As was the case in Sunday’s Vision Impaired Giant Slalom, Bertagnolli edged out Canada’s Kalle Ericsson for Slalom gold with Michał Gołaś of Poland taking bronze. But the circumstances were very different this time.

The Italian - following guide Andrea Ravelli - led after the first run with Britain’s Neil Simpson and Rob Poth 0.33 seconds behind. Ericsson was a half a second further back in third place.

On run two, Ericsson and Sierra Smith produced an excellent ski to put the pressure on the front two. Simpson - who won silver two years ago - had lost most of his advantage by the first checkpoint, and fell as he straddled a gate on a left-footed turn.

That guaranteed Gołaś (guide Kacper Walas) a second medal in the space of 24 hours with just Bertagnolli left to go. The 26-year-old lost a chunk of his lead at the top, but gained on the middle section. And despite only clocking the third-fastest time on run two, he held on by a quarter of a second to complete the Maribor technical double and clinch his 11th World Championship gold.

Afterwards, he said he felt less pressure after Sunday’s Slalom triumph. “I think we were more confident because yesterday we won gold so I didn’t have to think about that,” revealed Bertagnolli.

Arthur Bauchet cruised to victory in the Standing category to achieve his fourth tech double at five World Championships, and his 12th world title in all.

Fresh from his successful Giant Slalom title defence on Sunday, the 24-year-old Frenchman produced a near-flawless first run to lead his rivals by over three seconds.

Two medal contenders failed to make it down with Thomas Grochar and Aaron Lindström both straddling gates after promising starts.

Robin Cuche, the nephew of Alpine Skiing legend Didier Cuche, was second after the first run ahead of Bauchet’s teammate Jules Segers. But Bauchet was in a league of his own.

Segers - who won Giant Slalom bronze on Sunday - and Cuche had fine second runs to consolidate their positions. Meanwhile, Bauchet secured victory by fully five seconds to extend his unbeaten record in World Cup and World Championship technical races to 17. His last defeat was to Cuche in last March’s Sella Nevea (ITA) Giant Slalom.

When asked how he would celebrate his latest triumph, Bauchet replied, “I think I will have a big party because it’s incredible to say that I’m a 12-time gold medallist at the World Championships. It’s great and another podium with a teammate, so a perfect World Championship for me.”

Jesper Pedersen completed a hat-trick of Slalom world titles in the Sitting category, avenging his narrow Giant Slalom defeat to Renè De Silvestro on Sunday.

Pedersen led by four-tenths after the first run with his Italian rival fairly throwing himself into the turns on his second descent. By contrast, the Norwegian was smoothness personified on his second run, building his advantage on the top half before prevailing by 1.37 seconds.

The 25-year-old, who won four Paralympic titles at Beijing 2022, claimed his first gold in Maribor having racked up three at Lillehammer 2021 and four in Espot two years ago.

There was an almighty all-Dutch scrap for bronze with Niels de Langen pipping Jeroen Kampschreur by six-hundredths of a second having led his compatriot by almost nine-tenths at midway.

“The second run was really good,” said Pedersen afterwards. “I knew that Renè and Niels had been really fast so I needed to go even faster. I didn’t want to lose so I just went full gas.”

With the racing over for the men, the Slalom king can now bask in the glory of his eighth world title. “I think my teammates have some ideas,” he remarked. “But we’re going home tomorrow morning so hopefully we won’t miss the plane!”

The truncated Maribor 2025 Para Alpine World Ski Championships draw to a close on Tuesday with the women’s Slalom.