Naeslund marks return from injury with victory in Val Thorens

An emotional Sandra Naeslund marked her return to ski cross World Cup action by winning the opening race of the new season in Val Thorens on Thursday.

The Swedish star had to fight back from two serious injuries just to take her place in the start gate. She missed the second half of the season in 2023/24 due to meniscus injury, before recovering in time to feature in Val Thorens for last season's opening weekend nearly a year ago to the day. However, she then crashed out and fractured her tibia, ruling her out for virtually the entirety of last season.

But if there were nerves as she made her competitive return this week, she didn't show them. The 29-year-old was fastest on both days of qualifying, and went on to win each of Thursday's races all the way to the Big Final to win her first World Cup event since Innichen in December 2023.

It was a 40th World Cup win for the current Olympic champion, who crossed the line in the Big Final ahead of Courtney Hoffos in second, home favourite Mylene Ballet Baz in third, and Daniela Maier in fourth.

"It's been a tough way back, there's been so many important people by my side. This feels amazing," said the tearful four-time Crystal Globe winner.

"I've been so nervous since we arrived here. I said to myself 'Just come here and have fun and try to enjoy it', but there were so many nerves. I was feeling so bad but now it just feels amazing.

"It's been two years since I last stood on the podium. It's been a lot of ups and downs but I'm just so happy with my skiing today and so thankful to everyone who's been with me on the way back."

For Hoffos it was a case of deja vu, as her first ever World Cup podium came in Val Thorens in 2019 where she also finished second behind Naeslund.

"You never really know what to expect out here," the Canadian said. "It was a super challenging field of girls. It's was like triple the amount of girls from last year.

"I was excited to be in the mix. I knew I was in there and I just raced hard all day.

"It's huge. In an Olympic year you want to carry the momentum forward, stay healthy and just rip. Confidence is everything here."

For Ballet Baz it was a first ever World Cup podium, and she was delighted to have her nearest and dearest with her to celebrate the occasion on home snow.

"It's amazing," she said. "To do this here in France with the French public - my family was here and my friends - it's amazing. I think I didn't even realise it in the moment."

'Fastest room of the day'

In the men's section, history was made as Simone Deromedis and second-place Edoardo Zorzi registered Italy's first-ever one-two in a ski cross World Cup Big Final. It was a first World Cup podium for Zorzi, whose previous best result was eighth.

Deromedis, who also won last season's opening race in Val Thorens, quickly led the Big Final despite a slow start, with his compatriot just ahead of French pair Youri Duplessis-Kergomard and Melvin Tchiknavorian. As the Frenchmen jostled for places, Tchiknavorian lost his balance and crashed out, and Duplessis-Kergomard had to take evasive action to stay in the race.

However, Duplessis-Kergomard had lost sufficient ground to make it too much of an ask for him to catch the Italians, as Val Thorens' wait for a first home victory since Terence Tchiknavorian's in 2021 went on.

"This race means a lot to me. I have a couple of reasons," Deromedis said.

"First one is, a couple of months ago my grandpa died and my grandma asked me to win a race for him. So I am super happy about this, that was my motivation for the whole day.

"Secondly it's for Edoardo. He deserves it so much, he tried so many years to get that podium.

"I'm super happy for him and for the whole Italian team. We are in such good shape, we showed it today.

"I was feeling good already in pre-season and I knew I was fast on this track but I would never have expected to go so well."

It wasn't just the victory that will have been pleasing for Deromedis, who last season narrowly missed out on the Crystal Globe after a season-long battle with Florian Wilmsmann and eventual champion Reece Howden.

As it was, Wilmsmann was among a list of stars who did not qualify for the first day's racing - along with Ryan Regez and David Mobaerg - while Howden crashed out in the opening heat of the day.

Duplessis-Kergomard was relieved to not be another athlete to crash out in Val Thorens after leaping over his team-mate in the Big Final.

"I think today I have a podium and I saved a friend," he said with a laugh. "It was really hard but funny.

"It's already good to have a podium in front of the home crowd.

"There was a lot of pressure at the beginning of the season, in training and qualification, because this is not a season like any other, it's an Olympic season. We have a lot of pressure.

"What a good race and a battle to the final."

Zorzi, meanwhile, was delighted to share the podium with his room mate Deromedis after years of enviously watching on as his compatriot racked up the wins.

"I'm so happy," he said. "I don't know how many years I've been looking for this result.

"I had so much fun going from the eight-final to the Big Final, it was amazing. I couldn't have asked for better.

"I'm so happy to do this sport, it changed my life."

On finishing with Deromedis, Zorzi said: "Maybe it's a dream that came true.

"He did what I was planning to do; being the first Italian after so many years without good results.

"He started doing really well. I was quite jealous, but we're such good friends, we room together all the time.

"I grew behind him. Even if he's four years younger than me, I took time.

"I'm slow sometimes to understand things, but finally it looks like I got something."

Deromedis quipped in response to the one-two: "We are the fastest room of the day."

The athletes return for day two of racing at Val Thorens on Friday 12 December.