Moioli and Visintin fastest qualifiers in Cervinia

The season's fifth tour stop got underway today in Italy with weather conditions mixing up the qualifiers for the first ever World Cup stop in Cervinia.

Right at the foot of the iconic Matterhorn, racers weren't only battling the clock but also in a wind lottery to proceed to the finals of the top 32 men and top 16 women.

Italy's favourite Omar Visintin caught a great window for his first qualifier run storming down the 800 metres long course in effortless manner to clock in a 46.87.

Two-time World Champion Alex Pullin (AUS) who had sat out the last race in Montafon due to a training crash in Austria was within reach underlining in a time of 46.96 that he is fully recovered and up to defend his World Cup lead in tomorrow's knock out rounds.

In addition, US boys Jonathan Cheever (47.06), Mick Dierdorff (47.24), Hagen Kearney (47.25) and Alex Deibold (47.27) also had a great showing placing third to sixth, repsectively.

In the women's event, Michela Moioli kept the momentum from her Montafon win and made her home crowd fans proud posting the best time with a 48.68.

The 22-year-old therefore was almost two (!) seconds faster than French rider Charlotte Bankes (50.66), her fellow countrywoman Raffaella Brutto (50.70) and Nelly Moenne Loccoz (FRA; 50.79).

The finals are slated to take place tomorrow at 12 PM CET with Live TV information available here.

Live timing is also available for both, women and men.