Comeback king Haemmerle seals SBX World Cup win in Cervinia

It had to be him, it had to be here.

Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) capped a calendar year of more personal downs than ups with a statement Snowboard Cross win in Cervinia on Saturday, twelve months to the day since he last tasted a FIS World Cup victory over the same course.

The rejuvenated Austrian followed up his narrow second place finish from the season opener in Les Deux Alpes by turning the tables on Eliot Grondin (CAN), the rider who had denied him a comeback win at the first attempt in France.

In an even closer finish this time, Australia's Adam Lambert (AUS) squeezed between the two for only the third podium of his career, as all three crossed the line within 0.06 seconds.

“It was super tight - you kind of had to survive out there,” Haemmerle said. "I knew the other guys were all so fast. There was a lot of people going into turn one, I’m lucky I made it through and I could hold my speed and ride my line.”

“I was really surprised by Lambert. I knew I had someone on my right side, but I didn’t notice my left so I wasn’t sure until the end. I’m lucky to win this one.”

A further 0.05 seconds behind Lambert and wearing bib no.50 was Cody Winters (USA), another of Saturday’s surprise packages. The American equalled his best FIS World Cup performance with fourth place – only this time in Snowboard Cross and not over his more familiar terrain of parallel slalom.

For Haemmerle, the nervous wait for the photo finish to split all four riders was nothing compared to the months he spent recovering from two concussions which de-railed his bid for a fourth Crystal Globe last season. He now goes into the six-week break at the top of the World Cup standings and the Beijing 2022 Olympic champion will again be the man to beat when the season resumes in late January.

Swiss edges out Aussies

Before Cervinia, Sina Siegenthaler (SUI) had never stepped on to a World cup podium, let alone topped one. The 23-year-old Swiss won her women's quarter- and semifinal heats in some style on Saturday but was overcome with emotion after forcing the Australian pair Belle Brockhoff (AUS) and Josie Baff (AUS) into second and third places in the final.

“I can’t believe it, it is just unbelievable, I really never thought about this before,” Siegenthaler said moments after accepting the cheers while wiping away tears in the finish area.

“I guess I felt comfortable all morning, especially when the first heat was over. I didn’t really look at the other athletes, especially on the start gate, I was just trying to figure out how I was going to ride. Now I’m just so happy.”

Siegenthaler’s previous best results were three finishes of fifth but she will now enjoy the festive break in fourth position in the overall standings behind Brockhoff, Michela Moioli (ITA) and Chloe Trespeuch (FRA). Trespeuch dominated the season opener in Les Deux Alpes and crossed the line in fourth on Saturday before being downgraded to sixth.

There was more agony for Charlotte Bankes, however, who crashed out at the quarterfinal stage to finish 21st for the second race in a row. The Brit has now made her worst ever start to a FIS World Cup season and faces an uphill struggle to win a third successive Crystal Globe next March.

Next up: Mixed Team event

Riders will retake to the iconic ‘Gran Becca’ slope in the picturesque Aosta Valley on Sunday morning for the next round of the mixed team event, with Bankes and Huw Nightingale (GBR) hoping to extend their lead at the top of standings. The action begins at 11:30 CET.

QUICK LINKS

- Full results men and women
- Photos from the action in Cervinia
- Videos: watch the winning run men and women
- Full 2023/24 FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup standings
- Full 2023734 FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup Calendar