Deromedis ends title drought on Italian snow, signals Olympic intent with Val di Fassa victory

Simone Deromedis (ITA) ended a six-year wait to become a World Cup champion on home snow, winning at Val di Fassa on Saturday.

He was third out of the gate amid a tight start to the men’s big final, with Florian Wilmsmann (GER) and Reece Howden (CAN) abreast.

But the 25-year-old broke away from the pack to lead through the first intermediate split and never gave up his advantage.

“This is my house,” he exclaimed at the finish line, which Wilmsmann crossed 0.11 seconds later.

FIS Ski Cross World Cup leader Howden took third while fellow countryman Kevin Drury (CAN) was fourth.

‘A big relief’

It was Deromedis’ 15th World Cup race on Italian snow, with his first at Innichen in December 2019.

“It’s super special,” Deromedis said of his fourth podium on home snow and becoming the first male Italian athlete to win a World Cup race in Italy since Karl Heinz Molling’s 2004 victory in Pozza di Fassa.

“I skied a bit better. Skis were faster I think and it’s just a matter of very little differences that can make a lot. I was not that far from yesterday but a lot at the same time.”

A masterful day for Maeir

Daniela Maeir (GER) won the women’s big final, denying Jole Galli (ITA) the chance of a double in the Dolomites.

Galli, the champion on Friday, finished third.

Saskja Lack (SUI) took silver, 0.35 seconds behind Maeir.

Overall World Cup leader Sandra Naeslund (SWE) was fourth after bursting out of the gate first.

But Maeir pulled off an overtaking move at a similar segment as she did in their semifinals, after the Pelin jump as they made the right turn towards the dragon back.

“It was very important to get every feature, getting the speed from top to bottom, and that was what I did today,” said Maier, who was the day’s top qualifier prior to winning all her heats.

The results bode well for Deromedis and Maeir ahead of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games. In 2022, Ryan Regez (SUI) and Naeslund (SWE) won the men’s and women’s second big final respectively at Idre Fjäll, the last World Cup stop before the Games, where they took gold.

“Today was important that I ski really strong,” added Maier. “That it was enough for victory was crazy and really nice. It gives me a lot of self-confidence and I try to take this motivation and keep it for the next race.”

The World Cup resumes after the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games. The Kopaonik races will take place on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 February.