Can anyone wrestle Arosa from ski cross' triumvirate?

Can anyone wrestle Arosa from the hot-streak of triumvirate Marielle Thompson, Fanny Smith and Sandra Naeslund?

There have been a total of 14 races in the Swiss resort since the first in March 2014, and on none of the 14 occasions has there been an Arosa podium without at least one of those three standing somewhere on it. In back-to-back races in 2018 and 2019 the trio occupied all six podium spots.

Thompson and Smith lead the way with four victories each, with the Canadian only slightly ahead of her Swiss rival with nine total podiums to Smith's eight.

Naeslund, meanwhile, has a relatively modest return of two victories and four podiums on the Swiss slope.

But the Swede is primed to change that after returning this season from a pair of long-term injuries with a bang. In the opening two races in Val Thorens last week, Naeslund qualified fastest on both days and won both events to rubber stamp her return to competitive skiing.

Smith, meanwhile, came third on the second day of racing in France, which she said afterwards had come as a slight surprise given she had suffered an injury in the off-season which forced her to recalibrate her ambitions at the top of the season.

"A bit of redemption, I'm really happy," she said of her podium in France. "I knew it would take a bit of time to go and be at my best as my preparation was not as expected. I had some problems.

"I had an injury this summer during preparation and I'm late with everything in my preparations. We are just handling how we can these things - the important thing is that I will be fit for February."

The return to action of Thompson, meanwhile, is slightly more complicated.

After picking up a knee injury in March, she recovered sufficiently to report for duty in Val Thorens, but opted not to race. As things stand she is yet to make a call on whether or not she will compete in Arosa.

All three will be hoping to compete and to do well in Arosa, but realistically the main goal for all three is to arrive at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina injury free, and as such there won't be too many risks taken.

If there is a gap, who will take it? Hannah Schmidt is the only other active skier to have won in Arosa, but she too has been managing a return to action after an injury suffered last season.

Regardless, whoever wins in Arosa would have to do well to wrestle the initiative from the three leaders in their field, who between them have won the last nine Crystal Globes.

Men share the spoils

The men's section is a totally different story, with only three Swedish athletes - David Mobaerg, Viktor Andersson and Victor Oehling Norberg - notching two victories each. The spoils have otherwise been shared, although Reece Howden has been on the podium in each of the last three races.

Mobaerg and Howden both had mixed results in Val Thorens last time out, despite being the two most recent Crystal Globe winners. Mobaerg failed to qualify for the first day's racing on Thursday, while Howden was knocked out in the opening heat of the day. However, both went on to make the Small Final on day two.

Simone Deromedis finished second in Arosa last year, and started the new season with victory on day one in Val Thorens on day one and second place on day two.

Kevin Drury was the man to win on day two last week - and he has previous in Arosa, having won there in 2019.

The majority of men who have won in Arosa are still on the ski cross circuit to this day, but predicting a winner is a hard task. A shortened course will suit those who can make a fast start, while Drury's victory last week came from an incredible three-in-one pass in the Big Final which could suggest he could buck that trend.

Wherever the winners come from, we are in for exciting racing in Arosa, where in one section it's three against the world, in the other it's every man for himself.

The ski cross World Cup continues in Arosa, with qualification taking place on Monday 15 December and the races being held on Tuesday 16 December.