Duplessis Kergomard wins in Veysonnaz to blow World Cup race wide open
Feb 02, 2025·Ski Cross
Until two years ago, Youri Duplessis Kergomard (FRA) had only claimed two Ski Cross World Cup podiums. But on Sunday in Veysonnaz, Switzerland the 28-year-old made it 13th time lucky in the top three as a third tour victory, and first of the season, helped blow the race for the 2024-25 Crystal Globe wide open.
And the Frenchman wasn’t the only skier to take advantage of Florian Wilmsmann (GER) failing to make it past the last 16. The German, who had led the standings going into Sunday, lost position at the start of a stacked quarter-final featuring Duplessis Kergomard and Simone Deromedis (ITA), who won on Saturday. His two title rivals progressed instead, although the Italian wasn’t able to capitalise fully after making a mistake of his own in the first semi-final.
In the Big Final, it was a resurgent David Mobaerg (SWE), last year’s World Cup champion, who made it to the first corner in front. But Duplessis Kergomard took an aggressive inside line coming out of a jump to edge past the Swede and hold on across the finish line, prompting wild celebrations among the French team. Jared Schmidt (CAN) edged out compatriot Reece Howden (CAN) to take third.
“It was a big fight like yesterday,” Duplessis Kergomard said, after his third straight podium. “We went to war with all the big guys and I’m really happy. It was difficult today; I was really tired and just before the final I didn’t have too many things in my head. Now I’m going to enjoy my victory and relax. I’m never too tired to party!"
Defending Crystal Globe champion Mobaerg said he “felt good all the way” to just a second podium of the season. “I managed to clean up the start from yesterday’s race, which made me go to the Big Final. Unfortunately, Youri was too fast for me today but it’s so good to be back on the podium. I want to dedicate this second place to my little daughter, who means a lot to me.”
Schmidt, who claimed his first top 3 since December 2023, said he was relieved: “It’s been a while since I’ve been on the podium, been battling a little bit, but I love this place and came into it with a good mindset. The body feels really good. Had a week off, went to Morocco and did some surfing.
“You’ve just got to go heat by heat, trust the process and remember to breathe. Looking around that Big Final, I knew we had some pretty big names in here and I knew I had to fire it up. I had a decent start, got into third and managed to stay there.
“Confidence is everything, we saw that last year with three wins in a row. We’ll see. I’m excited for Italy.”
Deromedis made up for missing out on the Big Final by maximising his World Cup points with victory in the Small Final. It is he who now leads the standings by 15 points from Wilmsmann with Duplessis Kergomard only 30 points further back as the season approaches its halfway point.
Thompson double completes golden weekend
The race for the women’s Ski Cross Crystal Globe is now even tighter than the men’s after Marielle Thompson (CAN) won her second race of an imperious weekend, the third double of her World Cup career.
Ahead of a gruelling Sunday that included qualifying, the 32-year-old vowed to “leave nothing in the tank” – and she was true to her word.
The four-time World Cup title winner cruised through her quarter-final and semi-final as she had done on Saturday but faced a stacked field in the Big Final, also comprising fellow title chasers Daniela Maier (GER) and India Sherret (CAN) as well as home favourite and Thompson’s long-time rival Fanny Smith (SUI).
But reigning Crystal Globe champion Thompson never looked like anything other than a winner this weekend and completed another start-to-finish victory ahead of Maier. Sherret was pipped to the podium on the line by Smith, much to the delight of the Swiss fans.
“The plan was to leave everything out on the track and I did that and I’m super happy,” Thompson said after claiming her 35th World Cup victory. “I fought the whole way, I even dropped my pole at the start by accident – oops – but made the most of it, and I’m super happy with two wins here. It’s a great place, a great community supporting ski cross.
“I feel great but definitely tired. I’m looking forward to some rest because it’s a beautiful sunny day but it kind of took a little bit of the energy out of me. Looking forward to Italy.”
Maier, who claimed her second silver medal of the weekend, described it as “pretty fun”. She said: “I’m very happy about being back on the podium. Two second places is crazy really, I’m pretty proud.
“In the final I had a pretty fast start, I was feeling confident, I have amazing skis again. It was not perfect but I fight pretty good and came second.
“Maybe I will celebrate my weekend a little bit then we have some other races so I will be there as strong as possible.”
Sherret’s fourth place means she now leads the World Cup standings by just 11 points from Maier with Thompson only three points further back.
The World Cup now moves on to Val di Fassa in Italy with qualification taking place on 6 and 7 February and races on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 February.
