Back-to-back wins give Bankes and Grondin overall Snowboard Cross World Cup leads

Feb 02, 2025·Snowboard Cross

After dominant performances on day 1 of the second FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup of the season in Beidahu, China, Eliot Grondin (CAN) and Charlotte Bankes (GBR) triumphed again on Sunday.

The two riders both won every round, from qualification through to the big finals, and as a result finish the weekend on top of their respective World Cup overall standings.

They displace Jakob Dusek (AUT) and Lea Casta (FRA), the winners from the first World Cup in Cervinia in December, neither of whom were able to reach the big finals on Sunday.

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Bankes cruises to top of the standings

Bankes clearly won the qualification round on Sunday morning and, despite once again not always getting the fastest start, was first across the line in all three knockout rounds to show her quality.

However the Briton led the women’s big final from the start, with plenty of speed and height from every jump. She was challenged by Michela Moioli (ITA) in the middle of the course, but the Italian was caught up in the battle for third place between Josie Baff (AUS) and Sina Siegenthaler (SUI) behind her, and slipped back to finish fourth.

That was very unusual. Really happy to have managed to pull off a start in the end and to do it in the final with those girls was great. That was another tight race today and really happy to come away with a win.– Charlotte Bankes (GBR)

Bankes said the weekend had set her season up well in her quest for her third Crystal Globe, after winning in 2022 and 2023 and finishing second last year.

“It’s a big trip over here and I’m really happy to start the season this way. Last year was a struggle at the start and to be able to start on top with some good racing, I’m really happy,” Bankes said.

The British team © Miha Matavz/FIS

Baff was second and Siegenthaler third. It is Baff’s second podium this season, following her second place in Cervinia in December.

Siegenthaler missed out in Saturday’s quarterfinals after qualifying second behind Bankes, but was solid throughout Sunday’s racing, earning herself a shoutout from the Briton in her post-race interview for the way she had competed.

Siegenthaler chases Bankes in the semifinals © Miha Matavz/FIS

It is only the second career World Cup big final and podium for Siegenthaler, who won in Cervinia in 2023/24.

She dedicated the result to Swiss rider Sophie Hediger, who tragically passed away in an avalanche in late December last year. Before competition began in Beidahu, all the athletes came together in a memorial ride in Hediger's honour.

I knew I could do it because I was riding well this week, but it has to be done of course. It wasn’t my best run yet, but I think I did a great last bank so I got it. It feels really nice and I hope Sophie’s proud up there.– Sina Siegenthaler (SUI)

Casta took fifth overall by defeating compatriot Manon Lenoir (FRA) in the small final, after one of her trademark blistering starts. Amber Essex (AUS) was seventh overall, with Karolina Hrusova (CZE) finishing eighth after falling early on.

Bankes is now the leader atop the World Cup standings, followed by Casta and Baff who have equal points. Moioli is fourth, Sigenthaler fifth and Noemie Widmer (SUI) sixth.

Women's Highlights

Grondin dominant again

Grondin showed his superb form throughout Sunday’s racing, once again winning every round. While he had slower starts in the preliminary rounds, like Bankes he led the big final from the start to cross the line clearly ahead of the young German Leon Ulbricht.

It was really challenging. For me today was a lot more tiring than yesterday. The speed was just increasing for every run for me.– Eliot Grondin (CAN)

“The second day is always harder than the first day, everybody knows what you’re going to do, not a long break in between, you’re very tired, it’s hard to get back into it. To find a way to push myself, get back and do it again two days in a row is unbelievable," Grondin said.

He added that he had enjoyed racing in China.

“When I arrived here at first it kind of felt like home in a way – you know, the mountains, the snow, how it feels, the cold – very similar,” Grondin said.

The Canadian team © Miha Matavz/FIS

Ulbricht’s inclusion in the final came after a remarkable quarterfinal, where he was over a second back on early leader Dusek at the first intermediate mark but pushed hard to take second place through the finishing rollers, edging both Dusek and Nathan Pare (USA) out of contention.

Despite having dislocated his shoulder in training on Saturday Loan Bozzolo (FRA) was third in the big final, having finishing fourth on day 1. Merlin Surget (FRA) had to settle for fourth on Sunday after beating Bozzolo on Saturday. Bozzolo and Surget had earlier raced an all-French semifinal where Julien Tomas and Quentin Sodogas missed out.

The men's podium © Miha Matavz/FIS

Beijing 2022 Olympic champion Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) could not make it two podiums in a row in Beidahu after he was beaten by Grondin and Ulbricht in the semifinal. However, there was some redemption for Haemmerle as he cruised to a straightforward victory in the small final to finish fifth overall. Sodogas was sixth, Tomas seventh, and Kalle Koblet (SUI) eighth.

Grondin’s two wins in Beidahu mean he leads the overall standings by a big margin, making a statement about his desire to retain the Crystal Globe he won in 2023/24.

Dusek, the leader after the first World Cup in Cervinia, remains second. Lorenzo Sommariva (ITA) is third, although he missed the semifinals on Sunday in Beidahu. Bozzolo and Haemmerle are fourth and fifth, but with only a point between them and between Bozzolo and Sommariva.

The Snowboard Cross World Cup tour next travels to Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, with qualification on 14 February and the season's only nighttime finals on 15 February.