(Beaupré) We knew the crystal globe had been acquired, but Eliot Grondin made sure to write his name in the snowboard cross record book by signing a sixth victory this season during the first stage of the Mont Blanc World Cup. -Ste-Anne, Saturday.
This sixth victory in a season allowed him to climb alone to first place, breaking the tie he shared with Quebecer Jasey Jay Anderson and Frenchman Pierre Vaultier.
The British Charlotte Bankes, winner of the women’s stage, shares this mark with him thanks to her six victories won last season.
Grondin already held the mark for the most podiums in snowboard cross after being there for the eighth time this season in Cortina d’Ampezzo on March 9. His podium on Saturday is his ninth this season.
The Quebecer, who won all his waves on Saturday, saved the best for last, as he led this grand final from start to finish. At the finish line, he was several distances ahead of Australian Cameron Bolton and Czech Radek Houser.
Canadian Evan Bichon took fourth place in this grand final, recording his best career result after his seventh place acquired in Montafon, Austria, last week.
Liam Moffatt, the other Canadian competing on Saturday, was eliminated in the round of 16 and finished the event in 19th place.e rank.
Bolton moved into third place overall with 472 points. The Austrian Alessandro HäMme rle, sixth in the event, is assured of being vice-world champion with 588 points. Grondin is far ahead, at 852 points.
Bichon (162) and Moffatt (155) come to the 20e and 21e places.
Bankes back on top
Bankes repeated his feat from last year by winning the first race at Mont-Ste-Anne. The Briton had quite a final, taking advantage of the aspiration created by her competitors – and her experience – to beat them in the final straight.
She crossed the line in front of the French Chloé Trespeuch, leader in the general classification, and Léa Casta, who had dominated the qualifications. Australian Josie Baff finished fourth.
This victory for Bankes means that she is the only one who could technically deprive Trespeuch of getting his hands on a first crystal globe. However, the Frenchwoman would have to have an absolutely catastrophic day on Sunday, she who holds a lead of 85 points in front of Bankes, 742 against 657.
No Canadian had managed to qualify for the elimination rounds. Meryeta O’Dine was the best of the group with a 17e place Friday. It points to 16e rank in the general classification, at 217 points.
On Sunday, the qualifications will be contested in waves, adding a round to the session, which will start at the stroke of noon.