Takats takes advantage of open men's event for first World Cup win

Tristan Takats took advantage of a wide open men's field to claim his first career win at the opening World Cup event of the season at Val Thorens on Thursday.

The men's qualifying suffered from chaotic conditions on Tuesday, with last year's runaway winner Reece Howden among several big names to miss out on qualification for Thursday's event. Coupled with a number of high-profile retirements at the end of last season, it left the gate open for the rest of the pack and Takats - one of three Austrians to finish in the top six of the men's event - took full advantage.

The 28-year-old crossed the line first in his quarter-final, semi-final and in the big final to finish top of the standings in what was also his first ever appearance on the podium.

"It feels amazing, I was waiting for this moment,” Takats said after the big final. “My whole life I was training exactly for this moment every day.

"My start today was very fast - I won every start and I think that was very important. When you ski down at first it's pretty easy, but the last run - I would say it was a wild one. The skis were so fast.

"When I came over the finish line it was just like everything fell down from my shoulders."

Tyler Wallasch of the USA finished the big final in second place, with Switzerland’s Romain Detraz the surprise package in third after recovering from two separate surgeries on his back in January and March this year.

"It was a very emotional podium today because I come from far away," Detraz said. "I was not sure that I could come back to racing, so I'm really happy that my first comeback race I'm on the podium here at Val Thorens. It's very beautiful."

Second-place Wallasch said: "I missed qualification for Friday, I was 33rd, and I decided I had to make today a good day.

"It was a good day. A lot of battles; it's hard to make a pass and it's hard to block a pass, you've got to risk a lot. I'm really happy with turning it on early this year. Last year I didn't even qualify here so it's nice to make it happen."

Kristofor Mahler, who made it all the way to the big final despite finishing 32nd in qualifying, came fourth after missing a gate early in the big final.

The small final was won by Austrian Mathias Graf, with countryman Robert Winkler finishing sixth overall and Gil Martin of Switzerland and Dominik Zuech of Italy taking seventh and eighth place. It was a particularly frustrating end to the day for Zuech, who missed out on a place in the big final after a photo finish in the second semi-final confirmed Detraz had made it over the line a fraction of a second ahead of him.

Naeslund continues Val Thorens success

The women's event was won by Sandra Naeslund, who was tested in tricky quarter and semi-finals but dominated the big final to win her fifth consecutive Val Thorens World Cup race.

Naeslund won both races last year, and now has 38 overall World Cup wins to her name - the most of any athlete in ski cross.

"It feels really good," the Swede said. "I've been feeling good in the course, it's a really tricky negative down here, but I managed to hold onto the lead and I'm super happy.

"I got one good run and then it's been a battle. Hopefully tomorrow I can do it better."

France's Marielle Berger Sabbatel finished second in her home race, while the ever-present Fanny Smith crossed the line in third. Switzerland's Smith was in second spot for large portions of the big final but was unable to resist a clean pass from Berger Sabbatel late on.

"I'm really happy with this first race," Smith said. "It was really tight at the start with Sandra and I was really happy with that.

"It was a really good, fun race. Marielle did an amazing turn and I could not do so much about it, but in the end I am really happy with my skiing and it looks good for the season."

Canada's Brittany Phelan, who was also coming back from injury and had not had any heat training, came fourth in the big final, while compatriots Hannah Schmidt and Marielle Thompson fifth and eighth overall following the small final. Germany's Johanna Holzmann finished sixth and France's Jade Grillet Aubert took seventh place.

All of the big finalists, with the exception of Wallasch, will take on the course on Friday as the World Cup action continues in Val Thorens in the opening event of the season.