Germans Maier and Wilmsmann win in Innichen as Italian curse continues

German pair Daniela Maier and Florian Wilmsmann won on an opening day of FIS Ski Cross World Cup racing in Innichen that threw up plenty of surprises.

Maier finished the big final ahead of second-place Talina Gantenbein of Switzerland, with Marielle Berger Sabbatel of France coming third and Canada's India Sherret finishing fourth.

Maier moved up to third in the overall standings as a consequence of the result, 11 points behind overall leader Marielle Thompson (CAN) who suffered a shock exit at the quarter-final stage after a coming together with Maier early on in their opening race.

"I'm so happy because I feel so tired and everything, but I did it," Maier told FIS after her win, where she roared as she crossed the line.

"I was so happy crossing the finish line. Honestly, I have to say, my legs, they were dead, and I really had to scream to myself during the last turns.

"I was so happy to be first in the finish area."

With Fanny Smith opting not to race after picking up an injury in Arosa on Tuesday night, there was plenty of movement in the women's overall as Sherret cemented her place in second, while Gantenbein moved into fourth and Berger Sabbatel went fifth.

Second place marks a best result at a World Cup for Gantenbein, who had impressed as the fastest in qualification on Thursday.

"I felt really good on this track," Gantenbein said. "I felt the speed that I had yesterday in qualification, and I was really excited for today's race."

Berger Sabbatel added: "It's really great to be back on the podium, especially in San Candido because I like this race, so I'm really happy about today."

Jole Galli (ITA) finished fifth after winning the big final ahead of Canada's Abby McEwen, Switzerland's Natalie Schaer and Mylene Ballet Baz of France.

Galli was one of several Italians hoping to break the Innichen curse of never having had home-country skiers on the podium in history. Another was Simone Deromedis, who came into Innichen in the men's overall lead, but lost out on a place in the semi-finals after being beaten by some good skiing from compatriot Davide Cazzaniga in the quarter-finals.

Cazzaniga would ultimately end the day in eighth place after losing to Oliver Davies (GBR), Tobias Baur (SUI) and Cornel Renn (GER) in the small final.

It meant Wilmsmann was the big winner of the day, as he finished the big final ahead of France's Youri Duplessis Kergomard, Austria's Johannes Aujesky and Switzerland's Alex Fiva to climb to the top of the overall men's lead with one final race in 2024 to come.

"It was super exhausting today. From the first run on, you just had to work hard," said Wilmsmann, who dedicated his victory to injured team-mate Niklas Bachsleitner.

"I'm just done at the moment, but I'm happy that I could show what I can do in the heats and finals.

"It was just a nice day in front of family and friends. I'm really, really happy."

The 28-year-old said Maier's victory spurred him on in his big final.

"I heard it at the start, and I thought if Dani has won I have to win as well, so I'm pretty happy with that," he said.

Deromedis has now dropped to second in the overall, with Reece Howden in third after a disappointing overall day for Team Canada, who took four out of six podium places in Arosa last week but could not muster any in Innichen.

Fiva, meanwhile, lies fourth and is closely followed by Kevin Drury of Canada and Duplessis Kergomard, who is now sixth.

"I'm happy about my skiing all this week, during the qualification and in the final. About the results, yeah, it's a podium, but I need a win. I can do it here," Frenchman Duplessis Kergomard said.

Aujesky said of his second career podium: "I'm proud of myself and I'm super happy. I don't know why, but I'm super fast on this track."

For his part, Friday’s winner Wilmsmann says he is expecting a fightback from those who suffered disappointing results on day one in Italy.

"There are enough guys who are not happy with today," Wilmsmann said. "They will push tomorrow again, and you have just to push as well - all in."

Day two of racing in Innichen starts from 13:00 CET on Saturday 21 December.