Haemmerle fit for the fight as SBX World Cup hits Cervinia

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.