Sandra Naeslund of Sweden claimed her record-extending 45th World Cup victory in the women's ski cross big final at Kopaonik, Serbia, leading from start to finish. In the men's event, Tim Hronek of Germany earned his first World Cup win after a chaotic crash elevated him to the top spot. The races marked the first World Cup at the venue, following the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics.
Naeslund back on top
Sandra Naeslund (SWE), the overall World Cup points leader, dominated the women's big final on the 915-meter course with a 130-meter vertical drop. She burst ahead at the start and extended her lead, finishing 0.71 seconds ahead of Jade Grillet Aubert (FRA) in second. Marielle Berger Sabbatel (FRA) took third, with Hannah Schmidt (CAN) in fourth. This victory marked Sweden's 100th World Cup ski cross win.
Naeslund, who won bronze at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, had endured a four-race win drought, including a 25th-place finish in Val di Fassa. Grillet Aubert celebrated her fifth World Cup podium, her first since an injury. "It’s really important for me because this is my first podium since my injury. I’m happy to come back in the race finally," she said. Berger Sabbatel achieved her goal of a podium in each racing country. "It’s good because France just gave me a good goal to reach — to have at least one podium in each country we race," she noted.
In the women's small final, Marielle Thompson (CAN) won ahead of Fanny Smith (SUI) and Jole Galli (ITA), with Katrin Ofner (AUT) disqualified in the semifinal. Newly minted Olympic gold medalist Daniela Maier (GER) was narrowly beaten in the quarterfinals.
Hronek's wild first victory
The men's big final was marked by drama. Reece Howden (CAN) crossed first but received a yellow card for line deviation after contact with Florian Wilmsmann (GER) at Intermediate 1, causing a crash that also involved Tim Hronek (GER) and Kevin Drury (CAN). Howden finished fourth.
Hronek, the only skier to pass the gate at the crash point on the roller, was awarded the win—his first World Cup victory and eighth podium. He called it "a bit of payback for the Olympics last week," where he was unlucky. Hronek dedicated the win to Drury, who appeared injured and is retiring at season's end. "It’s very sad, man. He’s such a nice skier," Hronek said.
Wilmsmann described it as a "racing incident, tight battle, really unlucky." Drury and Wilmsmann tied, but Drury's third-place qualification edged him to second, with Wilmsmann third.
In the men's small final, Olympic bronze medalist Alex Fiva (SUI) placed fifth, ahead of Florian Fischer (GER) in sixth, Beijing 2022 gold medalist Ryan Regez (SUI) in seventh, and Milano Cortina 2026 champion Simone Deromedis (ITA) in eighth.
A second race is scheduled for Saturday in Kopaonik, 260 km south of Belgrade, hosting its first World Cup.
