SBX tour moves on to Cervinia
Dec 17, 2021·Snowboard Cross
After a double pack of snowboard cross action in Montafon last week with one individual and one mixed-team event, the circuit moved to Cervinia, which is located underneath the Italian side of the world-famous Matterhorn for one more competition before the Christmas break.
Last time, the SBX tour made a stop here, it was a true Italian feast, as on the women’s and men’s side the “Azzuri” managed to take the top spots of the podium with Michela Moioli and Lorenzo Sommariva causing the crowd to go absolutely crazy. And indeed, maybe the Italian athletes are again in the shape to repeat “the Italian job” one more time?!
Who is in the lead of World Cup points - women?
After last week’s win, World Champion Charlotte Bankes (GB) is on top of the World Cup points list and with one second place in Secret Garden (CHN) and one victory in Montafon (AUT) out of two competitions, it is no wonder, Bankes has a total of 180 points. Will she be able to show another exceptional performance before the Christmas break?
Unfortunately, we also have some pretty devastating news, in case you have missed them. At the mixed-team event last week in Montafon, our favourite moustache of the tour and last year’s overall World Cup winner, Eva Samkova, had a terrible crash in the finish and injured both her legs pretty badly, taking her out for the near future, so she won’t be competing any time soon. Horrible news for an Olympic season, of course. We are sending Eva Samkova loads of healing vibes and we know, she will come back stronger!
Currently sitting in third is Belle Brockhoff from Australia after her second place in Montafon last week following a really good race performance.
But one can never forget the energy that Italian athletes will reveal at home soil races, therefore we will have to keep an eye on Michi Moioli (ITA), the current Olympic Champion from PyeongChang 2018, who has a third-place result from Secret Garden (CHN) to her name in this season so far.
Podium candidates – men
In the lead of the World Cup standings with 200 points on the men’s side is three-time crystal globe winner Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) after two wins this season in two races so far. Haemmerle seems to be in an exceptional shape this season, just in time for the Olympic Winter Games. For sure, he will want to secure a third win this season, in order to show his dominance this season.
39-year-old Nick Baumgartner from the USA seems to be on total fire this season, being the runner-up for the World Cup lead with a total of 140 points. One third place in China and one second place in Montafon…does that mean a first place in Cervinia eventually, when looking at the progression step by step?
For the Italian team it is pretty unfortunate that Omar Visintin suffered a bad elbow injury after a crash in Montafon. Let’s hope, the veteran will get back into shape for Olympic Winter Game times.
And, of course Lorenzo Sommarivo, the title defender after the last race in Cervinia, should remain on our watchlist, because he has showed some solid racing this season so far and took the win together with teammate Michela Moioli in Montafon’s mixed-team event last Saturday.
Let’s see what will happen at beautiful weather conditions here underneath the Matterhorn.
Cervinia title defenders from December 2019: Michela Moioli (ITA) and Lorenzo Sommariva (ITA).
Qualifications are scheduled for December 17 at 10:50 CET for men and at 13:45 CET for women, which you will be able to follow on our website or via our FIS App.
Finals are slated to go down on December 18 at 11:30 CET.
WHERE TO WATCH (subject to change):
Saturday, Dec 18 at 11:30 CET:
Eurosport 2 (Europe), ORF Sport+ (Austria), CT Sport (Czech Republic), Areena (Finland), L'Equipe (France), RAI Sport (Italy), ESPN STAR+ (Latin America), Ziggo Kanal 14 and Ziggo Select (The Netherlands),
FIS Snowboard Youtube channel (geo-restricted, check countries where livestream is available HERE), Eurosport Player (Asia), Viaplay (Denmark), Arena 4 (Hungary), Peackock (USA), skiandsnowboard.live
QUICK LINKS:
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