The ski crossers have also started the new season. In Val Thorens, France, the German ski crossers impressed at the start – especially comebacker Daniela Maier and Florian Wilmsmann.
The course in Val Thorens was demanding and the athletes were exhausted at the finish. Well-known ski crossers such as overall World Cup winner David Mobärg (SWE) and Olympic champion Sandra Näslund (SWE) also fell victim to the difficult slope.
Daniela Maier was particularly impressive among the German ski crossers. After a break of almost a year, the 28-year-old celebrated her comeback and made it to the final. There she achieved an excellent third place – only the overall World Cup winner Marielle Thompson from Canada and the Swiss Fanny Smith were faster. For Maier it is the eleventh podium finish of her career. Last year she won in Val Thorens. In January, Maier tore a ligament in his foot and had to end the season.
Wilmsmann second in the photo finish
Germany’s best ski crosser from last winter also had a promising start to the new season. Florians Wilsmann won every run – only in the final did the 28-year-old narrowly admit defeat to the Italian Simone Deromedis after finishing.
Tim Hronek, who surprisingly came second at the World Cup in San Candido last year, fought his way to the semi-finals. But that was the end of the road for the 29-year-old – he ended up seventh. Cornel Renn was eliminated after a fall in the quarterfinals. Niklas Bachsleitner decided not to start. For Luisa Klapprott it was over in the quarterfinals.