'Georgia vibes' trump the golden bib's curse as Deromedis wins big on day one in Gudauri

Simone Deromedis was the big winner on the first day of FIS Ski Cross World Cup racing in Gudauri as the Italian won the big final after his rivals for the Crystal Globe had all fallen away.

Deromedis arrived in Georgia at the top of the Overall, but a mere 19 points ahead of Germany's Florian Wilmsmann. Reece Howden, Youri Duplessis Kergomard, Alex Fiva and David Mobaerg were all part of the chasing pack in places third to sixth, but none could muster many points in what was the first ever World Cup race in Gudauri.

Wilmsmann and Duplessis Kergomard failed to qualify for the day's racing, Mobaerg qualified but suffered a bout of food poisoning that ruled him out of even starting, while Howden and Fiva were unable to make it past the first heats of the day.

It meant Howden's 16 points were the most of the top six aside from Deromedis, who finished first in all but his races but the quarter-final to claim 100 points and extend his lead at the top of the Overall to 119 points ahead of the second day of racing on Saturday.

"It was absolutely full-set mode," said Deromedis, who was quickest in qualifying.

"It was kind of a long week. The whole week I was kind of always the fastest so I put some pressure on myself, but I did almost every run well so I'm super happy about the day."

Deromedis had joked earlier in the week that the golden bib had brought him no luck during the season, as every time he was in possession of it he would have to hand it back to Wilmsmann after the next race.

However, there will be no such handover in Georgia, a place where Deromedis also won in Bakuriani during last season's World Cup, as well as winning gold in the 2023 World Championships in the same resort.

"Yeah, it's the first ever time that it brings me luck," Deromedis said of the Overall lead. "But I think the Georgia vibes beat the bad luck of the golden bib.

"I just love Georgia. Four races and three wins - I don't know what to say.

"It's amazing. I don't know what's with this place but it always brings me luck. It's super good vibes being here in the mountains. I had a really good week and the conclusion today was really good."

Japan's Ryo Sugai finished second in the big final to claim his fifth World Cup podium and first since Veysonnaz in March 2023, while Erik Mobaerg raced well in his brother's absence to finish third.

Sugai said: "I'm feeling very, very good. Last season I was injured and this season is a comeback season. The beginning of the season I didn't have a good feeling but it's getting better and better."

It was a first podium of the season for Erik Mobaerg, who crossed the line ahead of Tobias Baur in fourth.

"It's great to have the skiing that it takes to be on the podium again," Erik Mobaerg said. "I have been struggling a bit this season and now it's all coming together.

"That was really fun today and nice to be back. The whole course is really fun. It's possible for all four skiers to be beside each other all the way down.

"I'm a skier that loves a lot of features and this course for sure has them, so it's great fun."

Meanwhile, Switzerland's Ryan Regez recovered from the disappointment of losing his semi-final to win the small final ahead of Christopher Del Bosco of the United States, Melvin Tchiknavorian of France, and Canada's Kevin Drury.

Smith defies sickness for first win of the season

Fanny Smith won the women's big final despite struggling with sickness on the day of the race.

It was a first World Cup win of the season for the Swiss athlete, who crossed the finish line ahead of Italy's Jole Galli, Canada's India Sherret and Daniela Maier of Germany.

There was also a big name missing from the women's section, as Canada's Marielle Thompson did not start after suffering an injury in training that ruled her out of the day's racing.

It meant her compatriot Sherret went top of the Overall with a lead now of 23 points, while Smith, Galli and Maier all made up ground on Thompson in the standings.

The Gudauri course was predicted to favour the bigger athletes, but the diminutive Smith raced with authority to win her quarter-final, semi-final and the big final ahead of racers who were thought to be better suited to the track design.

It was Smith's 80th World Cup podium and 33rd World Cup victory - her first since standing on the top step in Craigleith in March 2023.

"It was not the best day, I wasn't feeling very well today. I'm a bit sick and I don't really realise that I've won today to be honest," an exhausted Smith said.

"I think there's a lot of emotion behind this win today. I'm really happy to finally get back on top.

"It's a special day today."

Smith had started the big final the quickest, but endured a tough battle with Galli, who traded the lead with Smith in the middle part of the race after Sherret and Maier got tangled up together to drop their speed early on.

"I knew that when she's at the back that she has the speed and can use the draft," Smith said of Galli, who won her first World Cup in Val di Fassa last time out.

"I really wanted to try to push. We were next to each other and I said 'This time I'm not going to let her pass and I'm just going to push to the finish and win this race'."

Galli: "I didn't want to start slow but that's the slope, I couldn't do anything about that. I just tried to not think too much and just push, and it wasn't so bad in the end.

"I tried more than once to pass and overtake but today she really wanted this win and she deserves it. It's a solid second place."

For the dependable Sherret it was a sixth podium this season. The 28-year-old still hasn't finished outside the top five in a race this entire campaign.

"It's been interesting lately," Sherret said. "Yesterday I had a really off day so I'm really happy that I was able to focus and execute today. My skiing was far from perfect but I'm happy it was enough for a podium."

Sherret has now featured in the big final in ten of the 12 races so far, but was left ruing a lack of aggression in her latest outing in the women's showpiece – though she did well to stretch her fingertips millimeters ahead of those of Maier in a photo finish for third.

"I came into the first turn and I was in an awkward spot, I had to step over some skis but it made for a good fight," Sherret said.

"I should have maybe committed a little bit more coming into this bottom negative, which maybe cost me a better placing, but I'm happy that the mistakes at the bottom didn't cost me a podium."

Courtney Hoffos of Canada had won the small final earlier in the day, finishing ahead of Christina Foedermayr of Austria in sixth, Canada's Abby McEwen in seventh, and Talina Gantenbein of Switzerland in eighth.

Day two of racing in Gudauri starts at 7.45am CET on Saturday 1 March.