The French team has played a major role in today's qualifiers for the last snowboard cross finals of the 2010 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup. Facing blue sky and sunny and warm weather, it was Pierre Vaultier who blasted down the course in the second time trial (52.17 sec).
The 22-year-old rider from France, who has won four out of six races this season, relegated the winner of Valmalenco, Italy, Alex Pullin (AUS) to the second spot (52.83). The advantage of 0.66 seconds underlined that the 2010 Snowboard Cross World Cup title winner is back to business after he had finished only 16th last weekend; especially as he raced down the track on a pretty used up training board.
However, also Robert Fagan (CAN) once again proofed his riding skills in the qualifiers by posting the third best time (53.39). Hans Reichen (SUI) who earned his career's best qualification result will start tomorrow with bib number four due to a time of 53.52 seconds thus edging off reigning World Champion Markus Schairer form Austria with a lead of only one hundredth to the fifth rank.
On the ladies' side of things, Nelly Moenne Loccoz captured her first ever win in the qualifications. The 19-years-old French girl came in after 56.94 seconds thus relegating Olympic Champion Maelle Ricker (CAN, 57.30), US hopeful and winner of last weekend Lindsey Jacobellis (USA, 57.45), Simona Meiler (SUI, 57.45) as well as team mate and Olympic runner-up Deborah Anthonioz (FRA, 57.68) to the second through fifth rank respectively.
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