Last year's world champions Veronika Windisch and Robin Worling dominated the opening of theIce Cross World Championship in Val Thorens in France.
VAL THORENS (France).
Photos: Joerg Mitter and Paul Com
100 ATHLETES FROM 18 NATIONS
The first race of the ATSX Ice Cross World Championship took place in Val Thorens, Europe's highest ski resort.
At 2300 meters above sea level, 100 athletes from 18 nations fought for victory on a spectacular 330-meter-long natural ice piste from the roof of the "Le Board" congress center.
In sometimes extreme snowfall, last year's world champions Veronika Windisch from Austria and Robin Worling from Canada each prevailed.
Worling kept Michael Urban from the Czech Republic and Jim Depaoli from Switzerland at a safe distance.
"I have never been so exhausted in my life because of the high altitude," said the winner afterwards. The Austrian triple world champion and short track Olympic starter Veronika Windisch was in a class of her own.
She won ahead of Justine Zonne from Latvia. Third place went to Anais Morand from Switzerland in her comeback after maternity leave.
The discovery of the race was Jack Beatson from the USA, who first won the junior ranking ahead of local hero Artur Fortand then moved into the men's final and finished fourth.
The results:
Men:
1. Rob Worling (CAN), 2. Michael Urban (CZE), 3. Jim De Paoli (SUI), 4. Jack Beatson (USA), 5. Brittan Morris (USA), 6. Linus Ollikainen (FIN), 7. Thibaud Fauconnet (FRA), 8. Vladislav Ivanov (AIN), 9. Dmitrij Murlychkin (AIN), 10. Rijkard Van Wijhe (SWE)
Women:
1. Veronika Windisch (AUT), 2. Justinne Zonne (LAT), 3. Anais Morand (SUI), 4. Sarah Seibold (USA), 5. Jordan Sweczak (USA).Juniors: 1. Jack Beatson (USA), 2. Arthur Fort (FRA), 3. Stefan Vasjabel (CAN), 4. Mael Roudaut (FRA), 5. Karo Kinhunnen (FIN)
