GBS Results Round-Up: Bankes impresses in Cervinia, Slalom team superb in Val d’Isere

Early SBX action gives promising glimpses for season ahead amid weekend of strong performances

Bankes edged out in Cervinia World Cup Big Finals

Charlotte Bankes’ customary racing instincts were fully on show across the first of the season’s Snowboard Cross World Cup meets as she shot her way to an excellent fourth place at the Cervinia World Cup. Having come through qualifying in excellent form, Bankes made serene progress to the Big Final before seeing herself edged out of the podium positions in a high-quality Final, which saw Lea Casta, Josie Baff, and Maja-Li Iafrate Danielsson take the podium spots.

In the Men’s competition, Huw Nightingale experienced a challenging day’s racing, finishing 43rd after qualifying.

Ryding in top-10 and Taylor impresses at Val d’Isere Slalom

Dave Ryding secured his second top-10 finish of the season and Laurie Taylor his second top-30 at an exhilirating Val d’Isere Slalom World Cup on Sunday. Drawn in bib 1, Ryding looked fast and assured throughout his two runs as he took ninth spot, securing a sixth top-10 finish since the beginnign of last season, and his second in three races during the 2024/25 season, after his seventh place at the Gurgl World Cup.

Taylor again showed his outstanding second run skill to take the second-best World Cup result of his career with a dynamic 12th place finish, only the third time he’s finished in the top-20 after his 19th placed finish at last year’s Kitzbuehel World Cup, and an eighth place finish in Aspen in March.

Billy Major finished just outside the second run qualifying spots as he looks to recepture the form which saw him register back-to-back top-20 finishes at the start of the year.

Clugnet pick of the bunch at DAvos World Cup

James Clugnet took his best World Cup result since February with a 15th place finish in the Sprint F at this weekend’s Davos World Cup and a 17th place finish in the Team Sprint alongside Andrew Young. The SP F result gives Clugnet his fifth top-20 finish of the calendar year, and marks a promising performance ahead of the Tour de Ski over the festive period.

Fresh from his exploits at the Lillehammer World Cup, Andrew Musgrave came 21st in the Team Spring and 27th in the 20km C, while Young added to his Team Sprint result with 56th place in the Sprint F and 63rd in the 20km C.