Ulbricht stunned by breakthrough win as Bankes rolls on in Sierra Nevada

Snowboard Cross fans in Germany had become used to cheering one of their own on top of a men’s World Cup podium but they had endured a barren season with the drop-off in form and fitness of Martin Noerl (GER), the overall winner for the past two seasons.

There has been no such deterioration in the form of Eliot Grondin (CAN), the man perfectly placed to succeed Noerl at the end of the month. The 22-year-old Canadian was delighted with a seventh podium from seven attempts this season, even if his run of three straight wins was ended by a rider aiming for his first.

“He surprised everyone,” Grondin said of Ulbricht. “He had a super start and then he rode really well all the way down. He made a bit of a mistake on the last turn where I caught up a bit on him, but he rode super well.”

Crashes

While Grondin fell short of the top step this time, his grip on a first Crystal Globe tightened when his nearest challenger, Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT), crashed out. The three-time overall winner was leading his quarterfinal but was forced onto the wrong line through the bumps after brushing Merlin Surget (FRA).

Local favourite Lucas Eguibar (ESP) avoided that chaos and then cruised through his semifinal to the audible delight of his 30 family members and friends who had flown down from San Sebastian for the weekend. The Spaniard made a poor start in the final, however, and slid sideways through the line on his front in fourth position after clipping a course flag near the finish.