Double top for Zogg in Bansko, second ever win for Bormolini

In the men’s edition, Bormolini went from fourth to first in the overall tour rankings after the previous 1-2-3, Austria’s Andreas Prommegger and Alexander Payer and Switzerland’s Dario Caviezel, yesterday’s winner, faltered.

In a shock under the blue skies of qualification in contrast to the foggy scenes yesterday, Prommegger, the top-ranked rider in both disciplines before today, did not make the knock-out phase, finishing 20th. Following a disappointing Bulgaria adventure – the Austrian claimed eighth place yesterday – the defending men’s parallel slalom champion dropped down the rankings, having been the one to catch so far this season.

No problems for Bormolini, however, who qualified top, enabling the Italian to choose his course throughout.

“For sure I had an advantage for this because the red course was maybe a little bit easier,” he told FIS. “It was not so tricky as the blue course.

“Today was my condition, I think,” Bormolini said after winning the big final against Arvid Auner, the Austrian thrown by a rut on the blue course to give the Italian an unassailable advantage. “I like it when the snow is a little soft and you have to turn, and you have to stay on the edge. I had fun. It’s amazing.”

A colossal first race against Caviezel, with whom Bormolini was separated by just 10 points in the PSL rankings prior to today, saw the Italian come out on top by 0.29s.

Fast-improving American Cody Winters was just pipped by 0.05s before a match-up against Stefan Baumeister (GER) enabled Bormolini to overtake PSL tour leader and second-place qualifier Alexander Payer (AUT), who was a DNF in the first round against Daniele Bagozza (ITA).

Local fans cheered on home rider Radoslav Yankov (BUL) who reached the small final after not having quite enough to beat Auner, who headed to the showpiece showdown. Despite raucous support, Yankov was beaten by Baumeister to claim fourth while the German secured a trio of PSL third places this season.

The PSL standings see Bormolini on 266 points, Payer on 225, Fabian Obmann (AUT) – who was pipped by Baumeister in the quarter-final by the tightest of margins, 0.03s – on 197 points, and Baumeister on 195. Edwin Coratti (ITA) 172, Caviezel 171 and Auner 171 are also still in with a shout of PSL accolades come season’s end.

The overall standings see Bormolini on 372 points, Prommegger on 337, and Payer on 317. Caviezel sits on 295 and Obmann on 290.

The top three in PGS – Prommegger first on 240, Oskar Kwiatkowski (POL) on 174 and Roland Fischnaller (ITA) on 171, will be eyeing the next two races to up their game after none qualified for the knockout phases today.

Standings after 4 of 6 races on the men’s PSL tour
1 Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) 266 points
2 Alexander Payer (AUT) 225 points
3 Fabian Obmann (AUT) 197 points
4 Stefan Baumeister (GER) 195 points

Standings after 7 of 13 races on the men’s overall tour
1 Maurizio Bormolini (ITA) 372 points
2 Andreas Prommegger (AUT) 337 points
3 Alexander Payer (AUT) 317 points
4 Dario Caviezel (SUI) 295 point