All change in Snowboard Cross Crystal Globe hunt as Dusek and Siegenthaler win in Montafon

Mar 15, 2026·Snowboard Cross

Jakob Dusek (AUT) celebrates winning in Montafon © FIS/Heiko Mandl

Jakob Dusek (AUT) took his second win of the season in front of a delighted home crowd at the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup in Montafon, further shaking up the overall standings with one race to go.

Adam Lambert (AUS) surrendered his narrow lead after finishing third in a photofinish in his eighth-final, leaving the door open for chasers Aidan Chollet (FRA) and Leon Ulbricht (GER), who claimed third and second respectively in Montafon.

Sina Siegenthaler (SUI) claimed only her second-ever World Cup victory in a women’s event packed with overtakes, but third place for Charlotte Bankes (GBR) was enough to propel her into the lead after Lea Casta (FRA) could only manage seventh overall.

The World Cup series concludes in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada, in two weeks’ time with one final race for both men and women.

Dusek delights Austrian fans

While double Olympic champion Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) was hoping for better results on his home snow than he achieved in Erzurum, Türkiye, last weekend, it was Olympic bronze medallist Jakob Dusek who claimed top spot after a tight day of racing.

The men’s event had several photofinishes and a couple of crashes on the soft new snow after a big overnight dump, but it was Dusek who came through unscathed to take his sixth career victory and his second this season. The Austrian also won in Dongbeiya, China.

Adam Lambert was the first big name to go out of medal contention, losing a photofinish to Glenn de Blois (NED) in the first round. Lorenzo Sommariva (ITA) fell early in his quarterfinal, while Loan Bozzolo (FRA) was beaten in a photofinish by Alvaro Romero Villanueva (ESP), reaching only his fourth World Cup semifinal in 41 starts.

A mistake for Jonas Chollet (FRA) in his semifinal saw the youngster crash out, while Haemmerle could only finish third. Eliot Grondin (CAN) also missed the big final, unable to catch Dusek and Aidan Chollet.

Snowboarder Jakob Dusek celebrates as he crosses the finish line. He is wearing a yellow helmet and a blue bib, with Leon Ulbricht in the background in a green bib.

Jakob Dusek (AUT) celebrates as he crosses the finish line © FIS/Heiko Mandl

Aidan Chollet was the best starter in the big final, soon pegged back by Merlin Surget (FRA), with Ulbricht hot on the French riders’ heels. But Dusek was never out of the running and as the four came through the final turn, he managed a superb overtake to pass all three of his competitors and take his first win on home snow.

Ulbricht had more speed off the final jump to beat Chollet into second, with Surget settling for fourth.

It was such a tight big final and the move in the last turn it worked out so good, it’s just unbelievable. I’m coming from three weeks just laying in bed after the Olympics because I was sick, and not much training, and it was super hard today. To come out on top is unbelievable.– Jakob Dusek (AUT)

Ulbricht said: “It was awesome today. I’m just happy to stand on the podium again, third time in a row. My performance is really good at the moment, and I’m going to continue that in Canada for the season final. I’m hyped.”

Chollet was philosophical about his placing, saying: “In the final I clipped the tail of Merlin (Surget), not on purpose, but I came away with a nice third place, which has pushed me up in the standings, I’m happy. I gave everything.

“It annoys me to reach the podium when I made a mistake that affected someone. But I’m very happy with my placing.”

Haemmerle won the small final fairly comfortably for fifth overall, with Jonas Chollet sixth, Grondin seventh and Romero eighth.

Ulbricht’s 80 points was enough to propel him to the top of the overall World Cup standings, but he has a lead of just one point ahead of Aidan Chollet going into the last race. Lambert is now third, 41 points behind Chollet, and Jonas Chollet is fourth.

Men's Big Final

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Celebrations for Siegenthaler

Sina Siegenthaler has had to wait over two years for her fifth World Cup podium spot, but she looked solid in taking the win in Montafon.

The Swiss rider took a comfortable quarterfinal win alongside her teammate Luana Bianchi (SUI), who recorded her best World Cup result in seven starts.

The second quarterfinal was packed with quality – and drama. Former world and Olympic champion Eva Adamczykova (CZE) led out, chased by Sofia Groblechner (ITA) on the hunt for her first World Cup semifinal. Bankes and Michela Moioli (ITA) were off the back and struggling to catch, but a mistake by Groblechner on the final jump allowed Bankes in what would prove to be a crucial result in the Crystal Globe race.

Adamczykova missed the big final after a semifinal packed with overtakes, taking too much air time on the final jump.

On the other side of the draw, Olympic champion Josie Baff (AUS) was back on form, winning her quarterfinal and semifinal. But Casta, despite her usual good starts, struggled in the semifinal as teammate Chloe Trespeuch (FRA), on her 100th World Cup start, found a way past for a place in the big final alongside Baff.

The big final continued the overtaking theme. Baff had the best start with Bankes off the back; Siegenthaler got past Baff for the lead, and Bankes overtook Trespeuch. However the British rider could not catch the leaders, and Siegenthaler soared to victory over Baff, with Bankes taking third. Trespeuch stopped early after a mistake.

Siegenthaler dedicated her win to her family and friends, supporters, her team, and also to Sophie Hediger (SUI), who died in an avalanche in December 2024.

It’s been a hell of a ride, especially this season. I was always kind of fast in qualifications but then was digging my own grave in the finals, so it feels so so so good that it finally paid off. I’m just beyond grateful and happy.– Sina Siegenthaler (SUI)

Sina Siegenthaler, in a red bib and snowsuit, crosses the line in front of Josie Baff in a green bib and Charlotte Bankes in a yellow bib. Siegenthaler is crouched down and cheering, Baff and Bankes are upright on their boards.

Sina Siegenthaler (SUI) crosses the line in front of Josie Baff (AUS) and Charlotte Bankes (GBR) © FIS/Heiko Mandl

Baff said she felt back on form in Montafon.

“I would have really loved to have won today, and it was definitely tight, but I really enjoyed racing today. After my weekend in Turkey last week I definitely wanted to bring back the same energy and the same mojo that I felt that I didn’t have in Turkey, so I’m really proud of myself for just enjoying today and just being back to my normal racing."

I don’t know if I could have done much more. The speed was there and I was really committed in the parts where we were three wide, coming into turn three; you know it’s a scary place to be but I think all three of us were quite brave and we really showed that the girls can race and we can race really close to each other.– Josie Baff (AUS)

Josie Baff, Sina Siegenthaler and Charlotte Bankes stand on a purple podium in Montafon, lifting giant cowbells and a bunch of flowers in the air in celebration

Josie Baff (AUS), Sina Siegenthaler (SUI) and Charlotte Bankes (GBR) on the podium © FIS/Heiko Mandl

Bankes said: “It was a tough day, I got a bit lucky in the quarterfinal, had a good semifinal and lacking a bit of energy in the final. Everybody rode so well, so happy for Sina.

“It’s just been a battle, but everybody’s riding so well that you have to fight it out there. I’m happy to get a third out there with how it went.”

Manon Petit-Lenoir (FRA) was fifth overall with Bianchi securing a career-best result of sixth, after a clash between Adamczykova and Casta took both riders out of contention.

Bankes has regained her lead in the overall standings, and has a 13-point advantage over Casta before Mont-Sainte-Anne. Baff is third, 21 points behind Casta, with Trespeuch sitting fourth.