[ad_1]
- Fanny Smith triumphs in the final third cross-country ski race of the season in Bakuriani, Georgia.
- This is the third time the French-speaking Swiss has won the World Cup overall after 2013 and 2019.
- Sixtine Cousin achieves the best result of her career in position 5.
- In the men’s category, Joos Berry (7th) and Marc Bischofberger (8th) missed out on qualifying for the final.
Fanny Smith sets another exclamation point in her already glamorous season. The French-speaking Swiss won the Ski Cross World Cup in Bakuriani, Georgia in impressive fashion. Therefore, it is clear: the 28-year-old cannot contest the World Cup one race before the end. A fifth place on Saturday would have been enough.
After a big mistake early in the final and the consequent considerable deficit, Smith impressively caught up. A little later, the 28th victory of the Swiss in the World Cup was assured.
Meanwhile, Sixtine Cousin could hope for the best result of the World Cup. He missed qualifying for the final, but he confidently won the final race and took fifth place. Talina Gantenbein was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
End of line semifinal for Berry and Bischofberger
The semi-finals were bitter for the Swiss. Joos Berry and Marc Bischofberger got bogged down in their careers in the semi-finals. Bischofberger, in particular, is likely upset – a photo ending decided in favor of Jared Schmidt (CAN).
Even without Ryan Regez, Alex Fiva and Armin Niederer, who must remain in quarantine due to the crown, five Swiss had previously qualified for the round of 16. For Luca Lubasch, Tobias Baur and Jonas Lenherr, who all retired after a crash, this lap was the end of the line.
Howden, outright World Cup winner despite an early start
With Lenherr’s downfall, one thing is clear: the decision on the World Cup in general was made for men as well. Canadian Reece Howden was eliminated in the round of 16 – only once this season had the previous Dominator failed so early – but with two races remaining he still has 204 points over his first rival Lenherr.
