Brilliant Bankes returns to SBX summit in Erzurum

Milano-Cortina gold medallist takes victory on return to World Cup circuit

Charlotte Bankes marked her return to the World Cup circuit with victory in the second of back-to-back Snowboard Cross World Cup races in the Turkish resort of Erzurum.

After an uncharacteristic early elimination in the first of the weekend’s races, Bankes stormed back to her usual dominant form to seal victory with a photo finish in the Big Final, ahead of French racer Lea Casta. Noemie Wiedmer of Switzerland completed the podium, with France’s Manon Petit Lenoir in fourth.

Victory gave Bankes a second individual World Cup win of the 2026 season after January’s Dongbeiya World Cup race, alongside two Team SBX victories, in the Cervinia World Cup in December and, historically, in Livigno at last month’s Milano-Cortina Olympic Winter Games.

Bankes now sits second in the overall World Cup standings on 313 points, just 11 points Casta in the race for the 2026 Crystal Globe.