Naeslund and Rohrweck take victory at Reiteralm
Feb 19, 2021·Ski Cross
The Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup premiere in Austria’s Reiteralm could not have gone better from the perspective of the host nation Austria on the men’s side. And in the women’s field it is absolutely clear that Fanny Smith (SUI), currently in the World Cup lead, has one of her strongest competitors back with Sandra Naeslund returning to the World Cup.
Naeslund is back on top
The last heat of women of Friday’s competition consisted of the newly crowned World Champion Sandra Naeslund (SWE), vice-World Champion Fanny Smith (SUI), Canadian athlete Courtney Hoffos, who had her podium debut last season and Swiss youngster Talina Gantenbein, who had also made it into the big final at the World Championships last week in Sweden and her podium debut earlier this year at the home race in Switzerland’s Arosa, showing that she will be one to watch out for from now on.
While it was Smith, who shot out of the gate the quickest, it was the World Champion Naeslund, who quickly followed her lead and Hoffos getting on their tails in third position, while Gantenbein set in fourth position.
Smith seemed to be comfortably sitting in the lead for quite some time, until the first step-up, when Naeslund got so much speed on her skis and managed to ski the rollers so smoothly that she was able to pass Smith and get into her line, literally in front of the Swiss.
Smith immediately got into Naeslund’s wind shadow waiting for the next possible moment to pass the World Champion. Coming into the bank turn, Smith wanted to overtake Naeslund by choosing the inside lane, but the Swede immediately closed the door, preventing Smith’s pass.
Naeslund seemed to determined and on absolute fire, skiing faster and faster, making the right choices for each part of the course. Smith was trying to make the passing move, but just couldn’t pass by and getting into the last turn onto the finish section, it was clear that Naeslund would take it home making it a back-to-back podium after the gold medal last week at home in Idre. Smith crossed the finish line second and Hoffos was welcomed back to the podium for the first time this season, coming in third.
“Today was fun. I haven’t been feeling so comfortable on this course and also not really all that good that morning, but when the heat started, I was just ready to do it and it was a great battle out there. I think I had a bit of luck that I got a good line getting into the second turn and then I got some more speed and then I just tried to hold the good lines until the finish and I am happy that I managed to win,” the World Champion said after winning her first World Cup race this season.
Johannes Rohrweck claims home soil win
The big final of the premiere World Cup competition in Reiteralm on the men’s side saw World Cup leader Reece Howden (CAN), Frenchman Bastien Midol, Switzerland’s Marc Bischofberger and Austria’s Johannes Rohrweck in the start gate.
It was Reece Howden and qualification winner Johnny Rohrweck who went neck-and-neck into the start section of the course. And the Austrian took already the first turn to his advantage to take the lead of the heat. Midol was able to position himself in third and Marc Bischofberger had some troubles at the start, which chocked his speed already at the beginning of the race.
Rohrweck was getting really fast on his skis, but the strong Canadian was right behind him. The two athletes were having a tight race up front with Howden trying to make the move to pass, but Rohrweck seemed to just be on fire and one could see that he really wanted to take this win at home.
Coming into the finish after the last bank turn it seemed, like the guys in the back could still make a passing move, but in the end, Rohrweck was able to defend his line successfully being the one crossing the finish line first for the very first time in his career, whereas Howden came second and Midol third.
“I have been dreaming about this moment for a really long time. I was on the podium a couple of times, but I never had a victory and to claim it here is very special for me,” Rohrweck smiled.
“It was such a mental fight, really. When you are standing at the top in the big final and you know you are racing at home and you really want to win, it is very stressful for the head. But today I managed to handle that very well,” the happy winner continued.
New World Cup leaders are still the same. Fanny Smith was able to increase her World Cup lead to 665 points, in second rank we still have Canadian Marielle Thompson with a total of 407 points and sitting in third is currently Alizee Baron (FRA) with 366 points.
Reece Howden is still the World Cup leader on the men’s side, holding 550 points, followed by the Swiss gentlemen Jonas Lenherr in second with 343 points and Ryan Regez super tight behind with 341 points.
The ski cross circuit will now move to Georgia’s Bakuriani resort, where the 2023 FIS Freestyle, Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Worldchampionship are going to be held for one single race and the first-ever mixed-team event.
We don’t know about you, but we cannot wait to see this competition format to premiere…
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