Bertagnolli, Bauchet, and De Silvestro win Giant Slalom titles at Para Alpine Worlds in Maribor

Italy claimed two Giant Slalom golds on Day Two of the Para Alpine Skiing World Championships in Maribor courtesy of Giacomo Bertagnolli and Renè De Silvestro, as France’s Arthur Bauchet continued his dominance of the Standing category on Sunday (9 February).

Bertagnolli won a thrilling duel with Kalle Ericsson to complete a hat-trick of Vision Impaired Giant Slalom titles and take his World Championship gold medal tally to nine.

With guide Andrea Ravelli, the Italian trailed Ericsson by almost half a second after the first run. But 26-year-old Bertagnolli produced a blistering second run to put the pressure on his Canadian rival.

Guided by Sierra Smith, Ericsson maintained his advantage at the first checkpoint but lost time on the middle section. And he was unable to stay in front, finishing an agonising 0.32 seconds behind.

“Our plan was just to push, push, push,” said Bertagnolli. “We just wanted to do a very good run and we did it. I really liked this race. It wasn’t easy so I’m super happy.”

Poland’s Michał Gołaś (guide Kacper Walas) was just over two seconds further back as he matched his Alpine Combined bronze from Espot 2023.

Arthur Bauchet claimed his fourth consecutive Standing category Giant Slalom gold to move him up to 11 World Championship titles.

The 24-year-old Frenchman, who collected three golds at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games, held a lead of 1.63 seconds over Alexis Guimond from the first run. And after converting that into a winning margin of 2.74 seconds, he let out a roar of delight with his Canadian rival first to congratulate him.

Having won two bronze medals in Paralympic Games and a World Championship bronze, this was Guimond’s best championship result following his recent return from an 11-month injury layoff. Jules Segers took bronze to make it two Frenchmen on the podium, with Bauchet already looking forward to Monday’s Slalom.

“The second run was more difficult,” admitted Bauchet afterwards. “The snow is really soft, but I managed to win this one too so I’m really happy. It’s always great to share a podium with a teammate. Let’s do it again tomorrow!”

Renè De Silvestro edged out Norway’s two-time reigning champion Jesper Pedersen to earn his second Sitting category world title, adding to his 2021 Super Combined triumph.

The Italian, who heads this season’s World Cup Slalom and Giant Slalom standings despite six DNFs, led by just two-tenths after the first run with 2023 silver medallist Jeroen Kampschreur of the Netherlands less than a second further adrift.

The top three all had fine second runs, but the places remained unchanged as De Silvestro stayed on course to win by 0.67.

Taiki Morii (JPN), almost 23 years after his Paralympic debut, finished in fourth place. The 44-year-old will hope to make it back on the podium in Monday’s slalom after winning bronze two years ago in Espot, Spain.