Media Information
Anselmet and Harrop deliver impressive victories on the Sprint race in Boi Taull
Boi Taull, 27 January 2024 – Magnificent day for Team France this Saturday on the first race of the ISMF World Cup Boi Taull, with Emily Harrop claiming the victory with a photofinish sprint, and her teammate Thibault Anselmet producing an incredible last leg to deliver his second ever win on a Sprint race.
Third year in a row that the ISMF circuit had a stop in Boi Taull, on the heart of the Spanish Pyrenees, and despite the lack of snow, the course was ready to welcome the athletes, from 16 countries. Sun shinning bright, icy slopes, a steep segment before getting off the skis and 35 steps to face a descent with a tricky 180º turn before crossing the finish line that proved to be challenging for some athletes.
On the women’s Final, Marianna Jagercikova (SVK) had a strong start, and faced the two sets of diamonds clearly ahead the rest of the field, with Emily Harrop trying to stay on her feet, and Marta Garcia (ESP), Ana Alonso (ESP) and Celia Perillat-Pessey (FRA) battling for the last spot of the podium.
After leading during the whole race, Harrop never lost hope and made it to the last turn before the finish line just a couple of meters behind the experienced Jagercikova, who didn’t look back facing the finish and didn’t see the incredible last push coming from Harrop. The win had to be decided with the photofinish, and Harrop finally claiming gold.
The battle for the bronze was won by Perillat-Pessey, her best result on a Sprint race this season, while the two Spaniards on the final today, Marta Garcia and Ana Alonso, finished in fourth and fifth place respectively, and Marianne Fatton (SUI) rounded the top six.
On the men’s race, all eyes were set on Oriol Cardona (ESP) but the Spaniard struggled a bit today and only made it to the final as the second lucky loser of the semifinals, delivering some transitions that were not as flawless as he usually performs.
As soon as the gun started the final, Robin Galindo (FRA) pushed hard and set himself on the lead, ahead of Cardona and Arno Lietha (SUI), but the young Frenchman lost a ski on the last diamond and was passed by both Cardona and Lietha, who faced the final ascent and the steps shoulder to shoulder, remembering their incredible battles last year.
A challenging transition for both of them saw Thibault Anselmet coming from behind to move to the first place, slightly ahead of Cardona and Lietha. Another messy removal of the skins saw Anselmet starting the descent in first place, followed by Lietha, Cardona and Arnaud Gasser (SUI). Cardona tried all to try to move to the second place, and was close to missing a gate due to the bumps on the course, but finally it was Anselmet crossing the finish line in first place, his second ever win on a Sprint race on the World Cup circuit, with Lietha in second and Cardona in third.
Gasser finished in fourth place, Florian Sautel (FRA) was fifth and Galindo the last one on the final, in sixth place.