Haemmerle goes back to back on home snow

Mar 17, 2024·Snowboard Cross

Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) sprays champagne after winning both races on home snow

The FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup tour took the mountain in Montafon once again on Sunday for another thrilling day of racing. With just two races to go in the season the races the drama is high.

On the men’s side Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) went back-to-back sweeping the weekend’s races on home snow. The local favorite was backed by a raucous crowd on his way to the top of the podium once again after winning on Saturday.

It may have looked easy from the outside as Haemmerle won all his heats on Sunday. His body said otherwise.

“After my second run, I knew I had to keep pushing. My body was telling me to stop. That race was really intense. The crowd pushed me to do my best. Back-to-back, I have never done that so it’s an amazing feeling,”– Alessandro Haemmerle

It is the first career weekend sweep for the Olympic champion. It is his third win and fifth podium of the season. He now has 19 career World Cup wins.

Haemmerle won the race by an edge in a photo finish against his Austrian teammate Jakob Dusek (AUT). It is the second podium of the season for Dusek. Merlin Surget (FRA) took third in a back-and-forth battle in the big final.

Crystal globe leader Eliot Grondin (CAN) did not start due to an injury he suffered during his disappointing finish on Saturday. However, he now has mathematically clinched the overall title despite the rough weekend. Grondin had podiumed in every race this season until this weekend.

It is the first crystal globe for Grondin and well deserved after a dominant season with five wins. He will go for a victory lap on the final weekend back home in Canada next weekend.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Cameron Bolton (AUS) and Omar Visintin (ITA) lost in the quarterfinals. Cody Winters (USA) had his best finish of the season, making the semifinals. Quentin Sodogas (FRA) won the small final. Kalle Koblet (SUI) and Jake Vedder (USA) did not start.

Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) dives for the finish line.

Men’s Snowboard Cross Overall Standings

1. Eliot Grondin (CAN) – 752 points

2. Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) – 548 points

3. Cameron Bolton (AUS) – 392 points

4. Merlin Surget (FRA) – 342 points

5. Omar Visintin (ITA) – 304 points

The race for the women’s crystal globe is much tighter. Chloe Trespeuch (FRA) retook the lead in the standings with a dominant win on Sunday in Montafon. The French rider had been leading all season only to see her fall to second after a tough day on Saturday.

She bounced back in a big way winning the big final by a comfortable margin and avoided disaster on a day filled with crashes.

“I am very happy about today because yesterday was a hard day. It was very scary when I saw Charlotte next to me and under me when we touched. I am happy she is okay and very happy about the victory for me and my staff. It is an amazing day,” Trespeuch said.

Trespeuch holds a 78-point lead with 200 more points up for grabs in the final two races of the season.

“I will try to win again because I love it. There is no pressure with the crystal globe, I will just try to do my best and take the victory,” Trespeuch said.

Michela Moioli (ITA) is the top contender attempting to dethrone Trespeuch. Moioli had a rough day Sunday after winning on Saturday. She was given an interference penalty after causing a massive crash in her quarterfinal heat.

Charlotte Bankes (GBR) also had a rough end to the day when she crashed with Trespeuch in the big final. Bankes went down hard but the French rider powered through to remain upright on the way to the win. Bankes is third in the overall standings with an outside shot to defend her title.

Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) navigated the chaos on the day to smoothly ride in to second place. It is her first podium on the season. The 38-year-old has 60 World Cup podiums to her name.

“It feels great to be back on the podium. I had a hard start to the season. I had a couple of crashes that kept me out of the mix. I have just been trying to keep my body healthy and keep racing with these younger ladies,” Jacobellis said

Josie Baff (AUS) took third on the day. It is her fourth podium of the season and moves her into fourth in the overall standings.

Eva Adamczykova (CZE) fell in her in semifinals and was eliminated. She went on to win the small final.

Up next will be the final weekend of the season. The riders will travel across the Atlantic for two races at Mt. Saint Anne in Canada on March 22-24.