Haemmerle delivers for the home crowd in Montafon

There was cloudy conditions and slushy snow, but the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup stop in Montafon on Saturday delivered the drama. Multiple races were too close to call and decided upon video review. The day was filled with photo finishes as the chaos reigned.

The men’s event was jam-packed with wild results. The craziest of which came in the first semifinal. Overall leader Eliot Grondin (CAN) had podiumed in every race this season but saw that streak come to a halt by the slimmest of margins.

In the first semifinal all four racers crossed the finish simultaneously, nearly on their backs as they lurched for line. An explosion of snow ruined any chance for the naked eye to determine the winner. 

After the snow cleared it was Olympic champion and hometown hero Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) and his Austrian teammate Julian Lueftner (AUT) who advanced to the big final. Grondin would be relegated to the small final as was Glenn De Blois (NED) by mere centimeters.

The second semifinal also saw a diving finish as Julien Tomas (FRA) outstretched his teammate Merlin Surget (FRA) for the second qualifying spot, just behind semifinal winner Leo le Ble Jaques (FRA).

In the end it was Haemmerle who delivered for the raucous home crowd as he won the big final by an edge in yet another photo finish that was determined after review.

Once named the winner, Haemmerle could not contain his excitement as he threw a fist pump and celebrated with the adoring Austrian fans. He knew he had to bring a little extra for the home crowd.

This event means a little more to the Olympic champion as it is the only Snowboard Cross World Cup stop in his home nation.

“I am overwhelmed with my feelings. It was tough last year to come in here and the pressure is through the roof even though people are happy no matter how I do. I just felt a great energy. Everyone did everything they could to make this track possible. This event is the biggest on the tour for us. For me especially coming from here. I just wanted to win and God was on my side today with the luck,” Haemmerle said.

It is the second win and fourth podium of the season for Haemmerle. It is the 18^th World Cup win of his career, and he maintains second place in the overall standings. Grondin keeps his healthy lead for the crystal globe despite settling for a disappointing fourth place finish in the small final.

Just behind Haemmerle in the big final was Le Ble Jaques, who came up on the unlucky end of the photo finish. It is the first podium of the season for the Frenchman. Rounding out the podium was Lueftner. It was also his first time in the top triumvirate this campaign.

Other top contenders had rougher days. Omar Visintin (ITA) and Kalle Koblet (SUI) both lost in the first round. Merlin Surget (FRA) was edged out in the semifinals. Adam Lambert (AUS) settled for a small final win. His teammate Cameron Bolton (AUS) fell short of advancing past the quarterfinals after he was passed on the final turn.

Men’s Snowboard Cross Overall Standings

1.        Eliot Grondin (CAN) – 752 points

2.        Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) – 448 points

3.        Cameron Bolton (AUS) – 363 points

4.        Omar Visintin (ITA) – 284 points

5.        Merlin Surget (FRA) – 282 points

The brand-new course at Montafon brought plenty of challenges on the women’s side as well. The future 2027 World Championships host site delivered plenty of action in a set of thrilling races.

It was a duel between Michela Moioli (ITA) and Charlotte Bankes (GBR) in the big final. Bankes snaked past Moioli early on, only to see the Italian storm back to take the lead and victory.

“It was not expected. I was racing well but you never think about winning until you really win. This is what happened today but I am super happy about my riding. The big final was hard against Charlotte. She overcame me but I kept the right line to keep the lead and made it until the end,” Moioli said.

It is her second win of the season and third podium in a row. She now has 18 World Cup wins to her name.

“It feels amazing because it is the second win of the season but totally different form the first one,” Moioli said.  “The course was really fun. I am super, super happy with my riding today.  Thank you to my staff and ski man because they did a really good job.”

Moioli now moves into the top spot of the overall standings in a competitive race for the crystal globe. She holds a slim two-point lead with three races to go.

“It was unexpected to get back in the yellow bib. It makes me super happy and super proud. It is so cool. We will fight until the end and we will see what will happen for the globe,” Moioli said.

Bankes came up in second on the day. It is her fifth successive podium after a rough start to the season. She sits in third in the overall standings just 57 points off the lead.

Josie Baff (AUS) finished in the third to round out the podium. It is her third of the season and moves her up to fifth in the overall standings.

Chloe Trespeuch (FRA) could not do enough to advance out of the semifinals. Her finish in the small final dropped her to second in the race for the globe. She is two points behind the Italian leader after leading all season. 

Eva Adamczykova (CZE) was also dropped in the semifinals. She now sits in fourth in the overall standings. Lea Casta (FRA) crossed first in the small final on Saturday.

Up next the men and women of the World Cup tour will tackle the same course again on Sunday for another set of races. Qualifying will be held before the race but will different this time with brackets. The competition will begin knockout style form the jump. The schedule will go as follows (Times CET).

12:15-13:15 Pre-finals (Qualifying brackets)

14:15 Finals (as originally planned starting with the Round of 16 for men and Quarterfinals for women)

Women’s Snowboard Cross Overall Standings

1.        Michela Moioli (ITA) – 564 points

2.        Chloe Trespeuch (FRA) – 562 points

3.        Charlotte Bankes (GBR) – 507 points

4.        Eva Adamczykova (CZE) – 438 points

5.        Josie Baff (AUS) – 438 points

QUICK LINKS 

Montafon Results
Photos: Snowboard Cross Montafon
Full 2023/204 FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup Standings
Full 2023/24 FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup Calendar