Reiteralm welcomes back SBX action

Well, after a well-deserved little break after the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing 2022, where we got to witness some incredible medal fights and outcomes, it is time to get back to the World Cup business. With two more races left this season, the crystal globe battle is now the main focus to be looking at.

World Cup status quo – women

But where have we actually left off, before the five rings took all attention of the sports world?! It was Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA), who hosted the last World Cup race before the Olympics in great manner in a really cool night event.

Whoever knows Michela Moioli (ITA), knows that she has a very special talent – that is to race to the top of the podium at homesoil races. Maybe not always, but most of the time. So, it happened already in Cervinia back in December and actually also in Cortina. “Forza Italia” really seems to be Moioli’s mantra. And although the Italian was not able to defend her gold medal from PyeongChang 2018, she took home Olympic silver with teammate Omar Visintin at the Olympic premiere of the mixed-team event in Beijing.

Looking at last year’s competition in Reiteralm, it was also Moioli on top of the podium. Currently sitting in third place at the World Cup standings with 376 points behind Chloe Trespeuch (FRA) with 390 points in second and Great Britain’s Charlotte Bankes leading the World Cup standings with 469 points, theoretically a lot is still possible to shift here with two competitions still happening this season.

Speaking of World Cup leader Charlotte Bankes; the 26-year-old had a very successful season so far with five podium spots, oh which she took home three victories. Although the Brit was not able to claim an Olympic medal, the 2021 World Champion is on the best way to win the World Cup crystal globe, which would be her first one. Will she be able to perform as good as before the Olympics for the final two races of the season?

And of course, Chloe Trespeuch from France, now owner of two Olympic medals (bronze in Sochi 2014 and now silver in Beijing 2022), needs to be on our radar for some serious globe battling. With four podium spots, of which three were second place, Trespeuch showed some constant good racing and with the tight Cup standings, we can expect some great fights for the podium spots this weekend.

Can Martin Noerl keep up his performance?

To some it might be a little surprise, but the latest after Martin Noerl’s back-to-back wins in Krasnoyarsk in January, everybody should keep and eye on the German. Noerl won three consecutive competitions this year, to be precise he won all the World Cup competitions this calendar year (Krasnoyarsk (RUS) and Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA)). No surprise, he is wearing the yellow leader bib.

Unfortunately, Noerl did not claim an Olympic medal, even though he seemed to be in a really good racing mode. But maybe, now back to World Cup racing, the 28-year-old will be able to at least fight for the SBX crystal globe, which would be his very first. He is currently in the lead with a total of 386 points.

Only 20 points behind the German is the new SBX Olympic gold medallist and three-time crystal globe winner Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT). Needless to say, that he will be entering his home soil race with a confidence boost from another planet and we know that Haemmerle’s goal will be to end this season with the crystal globe in his hands for sure. As he is also the title defender of Reiteralm 2021, it could be hard to beat him on this course. But again, in snowboard cross anything is possible.

We also don’t want to leave out to mention Haemmerle’s team mate Jakob Dusek, whom we saw taking his maiden win this season in Cervinia, just before the Christmas break. He came back with a second-place win on the second race day in Krasnoyarsk (RUS). Therefore, he should be also counted in for a podium spot on his home soil competition. The 25-year-old currently sits in third rank at the World Cup standings with 284 points, which still theoretically is a spot to be in the mix for the crystal globe fight.

Well, as always, we will have to wait and see what the ladies and gentlemen will show us here at the Crosspark Reiteralm. We can’t wait to see everybody back in World Cup action!

Reiteralm title defenders from February 2021: Michela Moioli (ITA) and Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT).

Time trial qualifications are scheduled for March 10 and will start at 10:15 CET, which you can follow via FIS App or via live timing on the FIS Website.

Finals are slated to go down on March 12 at 11:00 CET.
 

WATCH LIVE (subject to change):

Saturday, March 12 at 11:00 CET

ORF 1 (Austria), Eurosport (Europe), SVT (Sweden), SRG (Switzerland)

Livestream: ARD (Germany)

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