Moioli and Haemmerle win at Reiteralm SBX World Cup premiere

What a wonderful day to have hosted a FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup for the very first time. Bluebird sky, sunshine all the way and perfect conditions welcomed snowboard cross athletes on Thursday morning in Reiteralm, Austria, for a day of exciting snowboard cross action.

The big final of women saw double silver medallist Michela Moioli (ITA), team mate Raffaella Brutto, winningest SBX athlete Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) and France’s Chloe Trespeuch in the start gate.

Moioli in unbeatable shape

Moioli was dominating every heat of the day and therefore obviously feeling strong heading into the last heat of the day. And in fact, it was Trespeuch and Moioli out of the start gate first and getting into the lead of the four. Moioli soon gained enough speed to get into top spot, while Trespeuch was in the following position, while Lindsey Jacobellis sat in third and Raffaella Brutto in last.

Then suddenly, Trespeuch crashed after losing balance after one of the rollers, making the impression to be out for the race, but then just a split second later, Brutto also crashed over the exact same roller. So, there were two athletes down and Moioli and Jacobellis all alone to be finishing the run, while Moioli was clearly in first position, claiming her 15th career victory and Jacobellis crossed the finish line second, making it her 54th World Cup career podium.

And then only a couple of moments later, Trespeuch from team France rounded out the podium and soon later Brutto came down into the finish on her board showing that she did not injure herself.

“I have no words really! I have never been here before in Reiteralm and I didn’t know what to expect, but the course is super fast and fun and icy and it really deserves to be called “World Cup race”,” a smiling Moioli said after the race. “It has really everything: big turns, jumps, a good start section, so it’s really great. I want to say “Thanks” to Reiteralm and also I am super happy to get the victory after a good qualification and after the silver medal last week, it’s almost a revenge to take the win,” Moioli continued.