Double podium for team France on women’s side and for team Austria on men’s side
Dec 16, 2022·Snowboard Cross
What a spectacular race this was once again in Cervinia (ITA) on Friday, 16th December as the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup tour made it’s return to the scenic Valle d’Aosta resort for the sixth time. After heavy snowfall during the night, we saw some spectacular racing down this long and challenging course underneath the world-famous Matterhorn, where Trespeuch and Haemmerle earned their first wins of this still young snowboard cross season 22/23.
Trespeuch back on top of the podium after two years
Friday’s big final in Cervinia saw, qualification winner Charlotte Bankes (GBR) in red, Belle Brockhoff (AUS) in green, Chloe Trespeuch (FRA) in blue, and Manon Petit Lenoir (FRA) in yellow in the big final.
After the start section it was Trespeuch who was leading the heat into the first turn, followed by the 24-year-old Petit Lenoir and the experienced Brockhoff. Bankes who pulled out of the start gate delayed was fare behind the other three women, when suddenly Brockhoff rode over the board of Petit Lenoir which led to a fall for Brockhoff.
Bankes took the chance to get in third position following the French train down the course. In the end it was Trespeuch who was leading from top to bottom and so took home her fourth career win. Her teammate Petit Lenoir got second taking home her third podium and Bankes crossed the finish line in third position.
Trespeuch was “verry happy” finally being back on top of the podium after two years and she said that her “goal of the season was a victory and sharing this with Manon is just awesome.” And she continues that her plan for tomorrow is standing on top of the podium again.
Haemmerle with his first win after his victory at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter games
On the men’s side of things in Cervinia we saw some tight racing in the big final with qualification winner Jakob Dusek (AUT) in red, Alessandro Haemmerle in green, Martin Noerl (GER) in blue, and Mick Dierdorff (USA) in yellow.
Martin Noerl only made it into the big final because of a yellow card for the second ranked Vedder (USA) in the quarter final, which led to a second instead of a third place and so progressing to the semifinals for Noerl.
Out of the gate it was Dusek with the fastest reaction time, followed by Haemmerle and Noerl and Dierdoff severed in fourth position. The two Austrians and the German went head-to-head into the first turn which led to a contact between Noerl and Dusek slowing both riders down and opening the way for Haemmerle to use his speed and getting into the lead.
Noerl, who lost the most speed now had to pay attention that he wouldn’t gotten overtaken also by the American Dierdoff. Right after the second intermediate, Haemmerle and Dusek where again so close to each other that they had to pay attention to not kick each other out of the race.
The four men were riding into the finish straight and over the finish line as following: Haemmerle in the lead, taking home his first win after his victory at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Dusek in second position and the German Noerl complementing the Austrian podium in third position.
New World Cup leaders: Chloe Trespeuch (FRA), Martin Noerl (GER)
For Saturday’s race, we go with a different format than for the Friday race. Instead of time trial runs there will be pre-heats in the morning to qualify for the finals at noon. That means all riders are racing heats four way and only the best two of the men’s 16th final and the women’s 8th final will qualify for the well-known top 32 men and top 16 women final heats at 11:00 CET.
Pre-heats on Saturday, 17 December are scheduled for 9:30 CET which can be followed on our website or via our FIS App.
Finals on Saturday are going down at 11:00 CET. Shown below where you can watch it live.
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