(Beaupré) Eliot Grondin wanted to show why the crystal globe of snowboard cross had already been acquired before arriving at the Mont-Sainte-Anne World Cup. He put an exclamation point on his dream season by signing a second victory in two days in front of his family, a seventh for him this season.
” Yes [je voulais donner un spectacle], said the 22-year-old winner after the official ceremonies. We are at home and I wanted to win the race. I wanted to do well and show that I deserve this globe. »
This seventh victory allows him to rise alone to first place for the number of races won in a season. Until Sunday, he shared this mark with the British Charlotte Bankes, who also scored a second consecutive victory in Quebec.
Grondin was once again imperious on the Beaupré track, winning all but one of his waves, finishing second in his quarter-final.
” It’s incredible. I experienced a bit of difficulty. Managing to regain the upper hand and score a second victory at home, I don’t really realize it yet, analyzed Grondin. Now I can say I have the globe. It’s an incredible feeling. »
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Eliot Grondin crossed the finish line in first place on Sunday.
In the last race, he beat – as the day before – the Australian Cameron Bolton. German Leon Ulbricht completed the podium. The American Jake Vedder was the other rider in this final.
Grondin thus ends his record season with seven victories, two second places and a third for 952 points, far ahead of the Austrian Alessandro Hämmerle, 17e Sunday, and its 604 points. His 10 podiums in 12 races also constitute a record.
“ [Le globe] is quite high in my best moments, said the man who also won two medals at the Beijing Olympics. It represents the consistency I had all winter. I was in the grand final in all the races except the one where I got injured and the one I missed. It’s a lot more consistency than last season. I’m super happy with the season I had. »
When asked if there were any celebrations in the air now that the season was over, Grondin had a tasty response.
“There’s a chance!” “, he said.
Short Bichon
Evan Bichon and Colby Graham are the only other Canadians to qualify for the playoff heats.
Bichon’s journey came to an end in the quarter-finals, when a loss of control caused him to touch the board of Austrian Johan Lüftner, knocking him off the track. Lüftner inherited third place, while Bichon was relegated to last place in his heat, giving him 16th place.e rank in total.
“It’s a disappointment for me,” admitted Bichon, fourth the day before. I had the speed, but I didn’t have the right line and I hit my competitor. I ended my race and his, unfortunately. It was my mistake: I was not able to correct my position quickly enough. »
Graham made it to the round of 16 and finished in 31ste rank in total. Tristan Bell (42e), Kai Hooper (46e), Griffin Mason (48e), Liam Moffatt (49e), William Scott (54e) and Noah Royz (55e) were eliminated in qualifying.
With his excellent weekend, Bichon broke through the top 20 world, rising to 19e place to conclude the season with 179 points.
“It’s a great way to end the season and we’re going to build on that for next year. »
Double for Bankes
As she had done the day before, Bankes lurked in the shadows of her opponents to take advantage of the slipstream and take the lead in the grand final in the final stretch.
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Charlotte Bankes
The Briton beat Italian Michela Moioli and Australian Josie Baff, while Frenchwoman Chloé Trespeuch finished fourth.
“I managed to have fun,” said the Briton. I found some speed on the bottom and gave it everything I had. It was a very nice final, we all surfed well. »
This final was contested by the first four in the crystal globe ranking, awarded to Trespeuch, who succeeds Bankes, winner of the last two seasons.
“A first crystal globe after 13 years of World Cups. I enjoy ! Trespeuch said. I knew it was almost in the bag yesterday; I only needed to reach the quarters. But I wanted to finish well. I wanted to get victory. I made a small strategic error in the final which cost me the podium. But hey, I was playful, and that’s what we like to see in boarder cross. »
Trespeuch finished with 792 points, compared to 757 for Bankes. They were followed by Moioli (704) and Baff (608).
Like the day before, no Canadian made it to the elimination waves on Sunday. Meryeta O’Dine finished the event in 19e place and season in 16e position.