Lech am Arlberg, Austria – Canada’s Dominique Maltais and Maёlle Ricker repeated their Tuesday podium performance on Wednesday in Austria, finishing first and second, respectively, in the second women’s Snowboardcross race of the 2010-11 World Cup snowboarding season. Alexandra Jekova of Bulgaria rounded out the women’s podium in third. Italy’s Luca Matteotti won the men’s race, joined on the podium by Alex Pullin of Australia and France’s Paul-Henri de le Rue in second and third.nMaltais, 30, of Petite-Rivière-St.-François, Quebec, decided the women’s final in the start section. After the first turn, the 2006 Olympic Bronze medalist was comfortably in front, keeping hold on the lead until the finish. It was an incredible performance which was rewarded with the World Cup lead after two physically challenging days in Austria.
“I was working very hard for this all summer long. I was never in such a good shape before,” said Maltais. But the back-to-back win in Austria is also redemption for Maltais’ muffed last season. “I had a lot of bad luck. So, I was waiting for this moment very long. It’s amazing to start the season with two wins, thus being rewarded for all the hard work.”
The U.S. woman who entered the race was Alaskan Callan Chytlook-Sifsof. She finished 9th.
Matteotti secured a long-desired win in the Snowboard Cross Word Cup for the Italian team, its first in five years. After his ride to victory, which moved his head coach Luca Pozzolini to tears, Matteotti could hardly believe his luck.
“This is unbelievable. I don’t know what to say. It was a hard fight for the victory,” Matteotti, 21, said of his win.
Matteotti fought a close duel with Alex Pullin all the way down to the finish line. While Pullin exited the first turn in the leading position, the Italian never gave up, fought back, put the Aussie under pressure and finally took over the lead.
“It was a tough duel. But it was lots of fun racing against Luca. He rode so well,” Pullin said of Matteotti. “I made a tiny mistake and he was there doing everything right. He deserved the win.”
Matteotti’s win was Italy’s first on the World Cup since Whistler in 2005. “I believed in my chance. After all, I was third in the time trials. I had a fast board and was hoping and going for it,” Matteotti said.
American Nate Holland, who won snowboardcross in Lech a day earlier, finished the day a disappointing 13th. Top American was Jason Hayle in 7th, followed by Jonathan Cheever in 9th, Holland, and Shaun Palmer in 16th.
The LG Snowboard FIS World Cup continues in Telluride, Colo., Dec. 15-18 with one Parallel Giant Slalom, one Snowboard Cross and one team Snowboard Cross on the schedule.