Dominant Howden and Naeslund mount top step at Montafon

With home races to come, Reece Howden (CAN) and Sandra Naeslund (SWE) extended their lead atop the World Cup standings with victory in Montafon to have one hand on the Crystal Globe.

Both competitors were utterly dominant, winning all their heats on Thursday to head into Craigleith and the season finale at Gallivare with confidence.

Howden topped a big final featuring reigning Olympic champion Simone Deromedis (ITA), two-time Olympic medalist Alex Fiva (SUI) and Nicolas Raffort (FRA).

Deromedis reacted fastest at the start, but top qualifier Howden swiftly made up the 0.15-second difference, surging ahead to lead the Italian by 0.40 seconds after Intermediate 1. Deromedis narrowed the gap as the race continued to finish 0.12 seconds behind Howden, who crossed the line 0.49 seconds ahead of Fiva and 1.08 seconds ahead of Raffort.

"It was a good track, really tight racing. Even if you were really strong in qualis, it's kind of tricky to get away from guys. But, fun track and it was amazing having the sun come out just for the big final," said Howden.

Howden is now on 843 points, 247 points ahead of Deromedis in second.

"I need to make points on Reece," said Deromedis. "Being second behind him is not the best option but I’m really happy with my skiing. I felt really confident on this track, I like it, I had fun, so I’m happy with that." 

Fiva extended his record for the most World Cup podium placings of any male athlete, having finished in the top three of a World Cup race on 40 occasions.

The Swiss, at 40 years, one month and 14 days old, became the oldest male athlete to finish in the top three of a World Cup event, eclipsing Tomas Kraus (CZE), who was 40 years and four days old when he finished second in Arosa in 2014.

Naeslund rewrites record again

Naeslund has been making history in her last three races as she continues to extend her all-time World Cup record of most wins with each victory.

After back-to-back wins in Kopaonik, the 29-year-old was triumphant again, taking her tally up to 47 World Cup wins.

Hannah Schmidt (CAN) burst out of the gate first, with Naeslund just 0.13 seconds behind but the Swede quickly got out front and could not get caught despite Daniela Maier (GER) best attempts.

Maier finished 0.06 seconds behind Naeslund. Jole Galli (ITA) was a further 0.58 seconds adrift, with Schmidt crossing the finish line 0.04 seconds after the Italian.

For Maier, it was her 50th top-eight finish on the circuit on her 100th World Cup start. Germany also celebrated a half-century as it was the 50th World Cup podium finish by a German female Ski Cross athlete.

"I’m a little bit disappointed that the track is not 100 meters longer then maybe my pass would be good, but I’m very good with a second race, it was good racing," said Maier, second in the Crystal Globe race on 803 points, 165 points behind Naeslund (968). 

"I figured out that I had a little bit more speed at the dragon section. I was like okay, should I go on the inside line on that next turn? I realized that it’s better to stay cool and take the speed with me into the finish section. It was good, but not enough. It was good racing." 

Earlier on Thursday, Marielle Thompson (CAN) experienced her first setback at Montafon, falling at the first hurdle after arriving at the Austrian valley with a perfect record — winning in 2015, 2016 and 2019 after topping qualification. She was third in her quarter-final, which was won by Naeslund, with Talina Gantenbein (SUI) coming in second.

The final races at Montafon featured a couple of siblings.

Marielle Berger Sabbatel (FRA) won the women’s small final ahead of Linnea Mobaerg (SWE), Veronika Redder (GER), and Gantenbein.

Gil Martin (SUI) finished fifth after winning the men’s small final. Hannah’s younger brother Jared Schmidt (CAN) was directly behind, followed by Linnea’s older brother David Mobaerg (SWE) and Ryan Regez (SUI).

The World Cup resumes in Craigleith with races on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March.