Ski cross World Cup begins with an Italian triumph

Simone Deromedis triumphs, Edoardo Zorzi is in his wake: the SkiCross World Cup opens in Val Thorens, France, with a historic Italian one-two. For the first time, two Italians find themselves side by side in a big final in the top circuit and complete the task by dominating the scene, with Trentino Deromedis taking the sixth career success and Bergamo-born Zorzi celebrating in the best way his debut in the decisive act.

The final is an all-Italian-French challenge with the two hosts Melvin Tchiknavorian and Youri Duplessis Kergomard contesting the podium for the Italians. Deromedis immediately took the lead, Zorzi followed, and the two transalpines got in each other’s way. The Italian breakaway goes all the way to the tragurdo, with Duplessis trying in vain to sew up the tear. Deromedis had also been able to impose himself in race 1 in Val Thorens last year, thus starting a very high-profile season, slowed only by the ruinous fall in Creighleit in mid-March, an unforeseen event that then slowed him down toward the race for the World Cup and the reconfirmation of the rainbow title won in 2023.

Deromedis and Zorzi also shared the first of the two semifinals, which ended with the similar placing of the final challenge.

In the previous rounds, both put in a lot of speed that allowed them to keep consistently out of trouble. A winner in the battery and in the semifinals, the 25-year-old Deromedis gave way only momentarily to Alex Fiva in the quarters, while the 29-year-old Zorzi –never better than eighth before today– signed his own eighth only to give way to Austria’s Aujesky in the quarters and of course to Deromedis in the next two rounds.

“For me this race is special – Deromedis’ comment -, I lost my grandfather a couple of months ago and dedicating a victory to him was an extra motivation for me.