Haemmerle fit for the fight as SBX World Cup hits Cervinia
Dec 15, 2023·Snowboard Cross
Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) and his rivals on the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup circuit are no longer in any doubt: the three-time Crystal Globe winner is back.
Haemmerle finished a spirited second behind Eliot Grondin (CAN) in the season opener at Les Deux Alpes a fortnight ago, in his first race since overcoming the vision and balance disorders which disrupted and then curtailed his 2023 season.
The 2022 Beijing Olympic champion is now looking to build on that promising platform as the World Cup arrives in the Italian resort of Cervinia for the sixth time this weekend (15-17 December).
“It was a dream scenario, riding a big final after an injury,” Haemmerle said of his narrow 0.07-second loss to Grondin in France.
“Especially the way it went down, it was all about snowboard cross: close fights and tight racing. Making the podium in the first race is always a great boost for your confidence. It makes me look forward to the next races, when I will try to get some more.”
Return to fitness
Haemmerle’s injury problems began with a heavy crash during training in mid-January and then worsened with another concussion at the 2023 FIS World Championships in March. The 30-year-old called time on his season during the penultimate World Cup stop in Veysonnaz (SUI) a few days later, saying he was not well enough to continue racing in such a high-risk sport.
“For me it was all about getting my health back to 100 per cent; without that I wouldn’t have dared to race so close with Elliot at Les Deux Alpes,” he said.
Despite his long lay-off, Haemmerle is hoping to repeat his victory of last December in one of the two FIS World Cup races held on the iconic ‘Gran Becca’ slope in the picturesque Aosta Valley.
“I really liked the course last year in Cervinia,” he said. “I really loved that they had built some proper jumps - it was a fun and speedy section, just like in the old days. I sometimes miss that on other courses.”
For his part, Grondin wants to extend the near flawless form he showed in France, when he hit the front early in every heat and stayed there. But there is sure to be strong competition in Italy also from Lucas Eguibar, the Spanish rider who finished third behind Haemmerle and came second overall last season.
Loan Bozzolo (FRA) and Jakob Dusek (AUT) also raced well in Cervinia 12 months ago while the home crowd will be rooting for Omar Visintin (ITA) and Lorenzo Sommariva (ITA), who finished sixth and ninth respectively at Les Deux Alpes. However, one big name absentee this weekend - and for possibly a lot longer - is Martin Noerl (GER) after the defending Crystal Globe champion broke an ankle during training on Thursday.
Unfinished business for Bankes
On the women’s side, Chloe Trespeuch (FRA) looked unstoppable on home snow a fortnight ago and won one of the two races held in Cervinia last year. The early season frontrunner must know, however, that any rider with as many World Cup wins as Charlotte Bankes (GBR) is unlikely to be so careless for a second race running.
The British two-time Crystal Globe winner had looked in fine form when bossing the mixed team event alongside Huw Nightingale in Les Deux Alpes, but she made a mess of her qualifying runs in the individual a day later, finishing 21st.
“I made a mistake at the start and you couldn’t afford to do that with the profile of the first part of the track being quite flat,” Bankes said. “It was a big blow to start the season like that but the team event proved I could be up there so I just need to keep pushing.
“I’ve had mixed results in Cervinia over the years (and) I think there are a lot of girls riding strong. Chloe for sure in Les Deux Alpes but we also saw Michela Moioli (ITA) and Belle Brockhoff (AUS) were back after some tough times for them. I’m looking forward to the battles we will have this season.”
All the riders in Cervinia will want to boost their positions in the standings ahead of a six-week break to the next stop in St Moritz, Switzerland, at the end of January.
“After the frustrating start to the season I’ve had, I want to give it everything I’ve got and finish the year on a high,” said Bankes, who also won in Cervinia last year. “The most important part for me is my riding and showing my true level, which I feel I wasn’t able to do in Les Deux Alpes.”
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