Smith and Midol prevail in Sunny Valley
Feb 23, 2019·Ski Cross
The first of this weekend’s back-to-back Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup competitions at Russia’s Sunny Valley resort saw an exceptional performance from the current World Cup leaders, with Fanny Smith (SUI) coming on top of the podium in the ladies’ event, while Bastien Midol (FRA) took the win on the men’s side.
Sunny Valley has been a highlight stop on the ski cross World Cup tour since its inaugural turn as a venue back in 2016/17, and in the first day of the third edition of the venue’s turn as a World Cup event action started on a high off on a high with Saturday’s first race. With a challenging course, big crowds, bluebird skies and the world’s best ski cross athletes eager to snag the famous gold crowns, all the pieces were in place for a top-notch show on day one of competition.
In the ladies’ event it was Swiss skier Fanny Smith earning some redemption after her somewhat disappointing results in Feldberg (GER) last weekend, as she returned to the top of the podium for her fifth World Cup victory of 2018/19.
One of best starters on tour, Smith was once again the fastest athlete to out the gate in Saturday’s big final against some of her strongest competitors this season, with the likes of Sandra Naeslund (SWE), Marielle Thompson (CAN) and Andrea Limbacher (AUT) all lined up alongside her. But once in first place Smith is tough to pass, and once again this was the case on Saturday as the Swiss racers cruised through the challenging course in the lead from start until the finish line.
“It’s a wonderful course here in Sunny Valley and it was an exciting day of racing,” said Smith following her victory, “There was a lot of fighting in the big final so I’m really happy to end up with the victory. We’ll back at it tomorrow and I know it’s going to be a tight battle once again. Of course I’ll try to do my best and ski as good as possible to get the crown.”
The double winner from the previous World Cup stop in Feldberg, Sandra Naeslund finished the competition in second, while Limbacher claimed third place for her second consecutive spot on the podium. Meanwhile, 2019 world champion Thompson finished just off the podium in fourth.
With only two more races in the season it’s Fanny Smith who continues to lead the ladies’ field with 663 points, with Sandra Naeslund sitting only 33 points behind Smith in second. Third in the standings is Thompson with 520 points, meaning it looks like it’s going to be a tight battle between Smith and the defending World Cup crystal globe winner Naeslund for the 2018/19 title at the season finale in Veysonnaz.
Moving over to the men’s side, Bastien Midol ended a 3-year drought to finally land on the highest step of the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup podium. After four second place finishes so far this season, Midol managed to finally grab his first victory since his last World Cup triumph at the Olympic test event in PyeongChang back in 2016.
And while victory was undeniable on the day, with the current World Cup leader sitting comfortable in the leader position for the entire race of the big final heat, the real action was taking place behind his back, with Filip Flisar (SLO), Jean-Frederic Chapuis (FRA) and Alex Fiva (SUI) going side-by-side-by-side in an exciting battle for second place.
At the end of the day it was Flisar who managed to finished just behind Midol in second, for his first podium of the season. Chapuis crossed the finish line in third, with Fiva settling for the fourth place after he crashed in the bottom part of the course.
In the overall ranking Midol has a substantial advantage his teammate Chapuis with more than 150 points, meaning it’s more than probable that he will secure his career’s first World Cup crystal globe in the second race in Sunny Valley on Sunday.
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