Naeslund's Val Thorens dominance ended by Germany's Maier

Germany's Daniela Maier won a thrilling women's big final at the FIS Ski Cross World Cup on Friday to end Sandra Naeslund's recent dominance at Val Thorens.

It looked as though Naeslund would claim maximum points for a sixth consecutive time at Val Thorens after making a predictably good start to the big final. But the Swede was first passed by Maier who never relinquished the lead, and subsequently moved further down the order after losing places to Canadian Brittany Phelan who finished second, and France's Marielle Berger Sabbatel who took third.

It was a first ever World Cup win for Maier, who was the quickest qualifier on Wednesday, while hometown favourite Berger Sabbatel backed up her second-place finish on Thursday with another podium finish on Friday.

"I just tried to come back to the qualification rounds and do what I can do and be by myself. Now that's the result and it's amazing," an emotional Maier said.

It meant Naeslund could not back up her win on Thursday nor add to her 38 overall World Cup victories. It is also the first time in 20 races where Naeslund has started a big final and not won it.

"It was a tight race," Naeslund said after the big final. "I was a little bit in the wrong lines and took some stupid decisions.

"First me and Daniela (Maier) got close and I came out on the side of the course a little bit, and then I guess I didn't go behind her fast enough because then Brit (Brittany Phelan) came and down here I was just thinking 'OK, just try the wide line and try to go clean and see if I can pass someone', and then Marielle (Berger Sabbatel) came on the inside."

Phelan, who returned from injury to finish fourth on Thursday before taking a podium spot on Friday, said: "It was a battle out there. Super happy with the day and my approach and making some sweet passes.

"I didn't really know what to expect coming here, I just wanted to focus on my skiing. Body's been feeling good, knees are feeling good and everything so I just felt free to just rely on experience and just let the skis take me down the hill - total intuition."

Berger Sabbatel said: "It's perfect to start the season with two podiums and two podiums in France. I couldn't ask for more.

"It was a different race than yesterday because of the weather, so it was difficult but at the same for everyone and I think the organisation did good work so it was difficult but safe and it was good fun.

"It was really nice to do some passes and win the negative with the injected snow. It was perfect."

Canadian Marielle Thompson survived a scare in the small final to work her way back to the front and finish fifth overall, while compatriot Hannah Schmidt finished eighth. Talina Gantenbein of Switzerland and France’s Jade Grillet Aubert finished sixth and seventh respectively.

Schmidt claims first World Cup victory

The men's event finished in controversial fashion, with Johannes Rohrweck out in front in the big final before crashing out of the race following a collision with Youri Duplessis Kergomard. Duplessis Kergomard went on to cross the finish line first to send the home crowd into loud celebration, but a yellow card was subsequently given to the Frenchman who then dropped to fourth place as a result. It meant Jared Schmidt was elevated to first place, handing the Canadian his first ever World Cup victory.

"It was a crazy day," Schmidt said. "We woke up this morning and saw the fresh snow on the ground and we were all kind of wondering what was going to happen, but the course crew did a great job cleaning the course off.

"We ended up having a great race. The cards kind of played into my favour today, I got lucky a few times, but I was always in the right spot, making passes and battling it out and ended up winning. It's pretty crazy."

Austria's Rohrweck, who did not finish the big final, moved up to third in the reshuffled order and Sweden's David Mobaerg took second place.

Rohrweck said after the big final: “Back in the Europa Cup days when I was young, a little guy, we skied always like this but times change. I take the third place and I'm happy with it."

Tobias Baur won the men's small final, while Canada's Reece Howden, who failed to quaify for Thursday's race, finished sixth overall. Johannes Aujesky took seventh place and Melvin Tchiknavorian finished eighth.

It is a short turnaround for the athletes, who immediately head for Arosa in Switzerland for the second World Cup on the tour next week. Qualifying for the men and women takes place on Monday 11 December, with the races taking place on Tuesday 12 December.